Ionizable cationic lipids

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides compounds useful as ionizable cationic lipids. The ionizable cationic lipids are useful for preparing lipid nanoparticles for the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids to cells. Cationic ionizable lipids were engineered with improved stability to oxidative degradation while in storage.

RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/456,567, filed Nov. 24, 2021, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/118,534, filed Nov. 25, 2020, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

This specification includes a sequence listing submitted herewith, which includes the file entitled 191016-010406CON.xml having the following size: 2,795 bytes which was created Dec. 1, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of medicine. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides ionizable cationic lipids, uses of ionizable cationic lipids in pharmaceutical compositions such as vaccines, and methods of using these compositions including dendritic cell targeting.

BACKGROUND

Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) are used for the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids to cells. For example, LNP pharmaceutical compositions are employed in vaccines to deliver mRNA therapeutics. LNP formulations typically include an ionizable cationic lipid (ICL). However, it is known in the art that certain ICL compounds are undesirably sensitive to oxidation during storage. Therefore, there is a need for improved ICL compounds with improved stability to oxidative degradation while in storage, while also providing desired transfection activity or potency in cells when incorporated in a LNP with a therapeutic agent such as a nucleic acid.

SUMMARY

Stabilized Nucleic Acid Lipid Particles (SNALP) are used as a vehicle for the systemic delivery of mRNA or other nucleic acid therapeutics. SNALP compositions include cationic lipids such as MC3 or KC2, comprising a protonatable tertiary amine head group joined to a pair of linear 18 carbon aliphatic chains containing a pair of carbon-carbon double bonds separated by a single methylene group (e.g., linoleic acid). However, while the structure of these hydrocarbon chains, each containing a pair of double bonds separated by a single methylene group, imparts desirable biological properties to the SNALP compositions, this chemical sub-structure also results in the undesired problem of increased sensitivity of the compound to oxidative degradation. For example, FIG. 1 is a depiction of the oxidative degradation mechanisms of lipid esters of linoleic acid containing conjugated multiple unsaturations that are particularly sensitive to oxidation. What is needed are novel cationic lipids suitable for use in a SNALP composition, but having enhanced resistance to oxidative degradation.

The present disclosure provides for compositions of ionizable cationic lipids useful in the preparation of lipid nanoparticles (LNP) for the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids to cells. Cationic lipids can be engineered with improved stability to oxidative degradation while in storage, while retaining high transfection activity or potency in cells. In some embodiments, lipids disclosed herein comprise at least two carbon-carbon double bonds (olefins) spaced with at least two methylene groups. The olefins in the lipid tails separated by at least two methylene groups render the ionizable cationic lipid compounds described herein considerably less susceptible to oxidation compared to compounds separated by one methylene group, for example DLin-MC3-DMA, considered the gold standard in ionizable cationic lipid design and which was reported to have stability issues.

In some embodiments, the lipids are designed to be biodegradable, thus improving the tolerability of nanoparticles formed with them in vivo. In some embodiments, compositions further comprising ligands, such as antibody conjugates, directed against cell surface receptors to target lipid nanoparticles in a highly specific manner to dendritic cells are provided.

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is a cationic lipid selected from the group consisting of: AKG-UO-1, AKG-UO-2, AKG-UO-4, AKG-UO-4A and AKG-UO-5. In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-1:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-1A:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-1B:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-2

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-4:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-4A:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-5:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-6, AKG-UO-7, AKG-UO-7, AKG-UO-8, AKG-UO-9, or AKG-UO-10:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid comprises a head group that includes a methylated phosphate moiety. In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is selected from the group consisting of Compounds 20-22 and Compounds 26-28:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is AKG-UO-3:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is selected from the group consisting of Compound 1-8:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is a compound selected from the group consisting of Compounds 9-19:

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid is a compound selected from the group consisting of Compounds 29-34:

In some embodiments, the ioniziable lipid is selected from the group consisting of Compounds 35-38:

In some embodiments, the compounds provided herein have greater than 30%, greater 50%, greater 75%, greater 90%, and greater 95% reduction in oxidation byproducts when compared to the control LNP. In some embodiments, the compounds provided herein have greater than 30%, greater 50%, greater 75%, greater 90%, and greater 95% reduction in oxidation byproducts when compared to the control LNP containing the DLin-KC2-DMA lipid.

In some embodiments, the ionizable lipid encapsulate the nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a siRNA molecule. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a mRNA molecule. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a DNA molecule. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is mRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is siRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is DNA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a depiction of the oxidative degradation mechanisms of lipid esters of linoleic acid containing conjugated multiple unsaturations that are particularly sensitive to oxidation.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a comparison of transfection activity for LNPs prepared with KC2 and KC3 polyunsaturated ICLs with a single methylene between the two olefins and LNPs prepared with KC2-01 and KC3-01 ICLs with four methylenes between the two olefins.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the impact of ionizable lipid acyl chain composition on transfection efficiency of mCherry mRNA LNPs in dendritic cells.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the oxidative degradation of lipid suspensions of ICLs with a single methylene between two olefins (KC2, KC3, and 0-11769) and those with four methylenes between the two olefins (KC2-01, KC3-01, and UO-1).

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the oxidative degradation of liposomes containing 0-11769, an ICL with a single methylene between two olefins liposomes containing UO-1, an ICL with four methylenes between the two olefins.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of the reaction of the reduced c-terminal cysteine of a Fab′ antibody fragment with a maleimide terminated-poly(ethylene glycol) 2000 derivatized distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine.

FIG. 7 is a scheme of the synthesis of acid intermediates for AKG-UO-1 to AKG-UO-3 (Scheme 1).

FIG. 8 is a scheme of the synthesis of acid intermediates for AKG-BDG-01 and AKG-BDG-02 (Scheme 3).

FIG. 9 is a scheme of the synthesis of AKG-UO-2 (Scheme 5).

FIG. 10 is a scheme of the synthesis of AKG-UO-3 (Scheme 6).

FIG. 11A shows Scheme 7; FIG. 11B shows Scheme 8 and FIG. 11C shows Scheme 9.

FIG. 12 is a scheme of the synthesis of (S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,11Z,11′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,11-dienoate)(AKG-UO-1a).

FIG. 13 is a scheme of the synthesis of Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine (AKG-KC2-01, 0-12095) and of 3-((S)-2,2-di((6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine (AKG-KC3-01, O-12096).

FIG. 14 is a scheme of the synthesis of Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine (AKG-KC2-OA, O-11880); 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-hexadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine (AKG-KC2-PA, O-11879); and 3-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine (AKG-KC3-OA, O-11957).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the compositions and methods of the present disclosure.

Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions and methods related to the treatment of bacterial infections. As used herein, the term “compound”, “drug” and “active agent” are used interchangeably. Some aspects of the disclosure relate to novel ionizable lipids or bioreducible ionizable lipids. These lipids are cationic (i.e. positively charged) at acidic pH, such as encountered intracellularly following endocytosis or phagocytosis by a cell. The same lipids, and compositions containing them, are near neutral in charge when present at pH 7.4. These lipids may also have multiple olefins that are separated by at least two methylene groups present in their alkyl or acyl groups.

Some aspects of the disclosure relate to the process for the synthesis of the novel ionizable lipids.

Other aspects relate to compositions comprising lipidic nanoparticles comprising ionizable cationic lipid, the lipidic nanoparticles containing nucleic acids. In some embodiments, nucleic acids are encapsulated into the lipidic nanoparticles.

Other aspects of the disclosure relate to the use of these ionizable lipids or lipidic nanoparticles compositions comprising ionizable lipids in vaccines for the prevention of infectious diseases or cancer. In some embodiments, the infectious disease can be a bacterial or a viral infection. In some embodiments, the compositions described herein can be used to prevent infections related to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, or coronavirus-related infections such as COVID-19. In other embodiments, the infection is influenza, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Dengue, human papillomavirus (HPV), norovirus, mumps, measles, Meningococcal disease, pneuomococcal disease, polio, rotovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rubella, shingles/herpes zoster virus, tetanus, or whooping cough.

In some embodiments, the compounds and compositions described herein may promote efficient uptake and transfection of target cells, including tissue macrophages and dendritic cells.

The efficient delivery nucleic acids coding for antigen specific for infectious viruses or bacteria, and subsequent presentation of that antigen to elicit the desired immune response to protect against corresponding infections is a result.

Definitions

For convenience, certain terms employed in the specification, examples, and appended claims are collected here. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

As used herein, the following terms and phrases are intended to have the following meanings:

The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.

As used herein the term “comprising” or “comprises” is used in reference to compositions, methods, and respective component(s) thereof, that are present in a given embodiment, yet open to the inclusion of unspecified elements.

As used herein the term “consisting essentially of” refers to those elements required for a given embodiment. The term permits the presence of additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel or functional characteristic(s) of that embodiment of the disclosure.

The term “consisting of” refers to compositions, methods, and respective components thereof as described herein, which are exclusive of any element not recited in that description of the embodiment.

The term “comprising” when used in the specification includes “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

If it is referred to “as mentioned above” or “mentioned above”, “supra” within the description it is referred to any of the disclosures made within the specification in any of the preceding pages.

If it is referred to “as mentioned herein”, “described herein”, “provided herein,” or “as mentioned in the present text,” or “stated herein” within the description it is referred to any of the disclosures made within the specification in any of the preceding or subsequent pages.

As used herein, the term “about” means acceptable variations within 20%, within 10% and within 5% of the stated value. In certain embodiments, “about” can mean a variation of +/−1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10% or 20%.

The term “effective amount” as used herein with respect to a compound or the composition means the amount of active compound (also referred herein as active agent or drug) sufficient to cause a bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect. In one embodiment, the effective amount is a “therapeutically effective amount” meaning the amount of active compound that is sufficient alleviate the symptoms of the bacterial infection being treated.

The term “subject” (or, alternatively, “patient”) as used herein refers to an animal, preferably a mammal, most preferably a human that receives either prophylactic or therapeutic treatment.

The term “administration” or “administering” as used herein includes all means of introducing the compounds or the pharmaceutical compositions to the subject in need thereof, including but not limited to, oral, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, transdermal, inhalation, buccal, ocular, sublingual, vaginal, rectal and the like. Administration of the compound or the composition is suitably parenteral. For example, the compounds or the composition can be preferentially administered intravenously, but can also be administered intraperitoneally or via inhalation like is currently used in the clinic for liposomal amikacin in the treatment of Mycobacterium avium (see Shirley et al., Amikacin Liposome Inhalation Suspension: A Review in Mycobacterium avium Complex Lung Disease. Drugs. 2019 April; 79(5):555-562)

The terms “treat,” “treating,” and “treatment,” as used herein, refer to therapeutic or preventative measures such as those described herein.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to a relatively non-toxic, inorganic or organic acid addition salt of a compound of the present disclosure which salt possesses the desired pharmacological activity.

The term “alkyl” means saturated carbon chains having from one to twenty carbon atoms which may be linear or branched or combinations thereof, unless the carbon chain is defined otherwise. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec- and tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, and the like. Unless stated otherwise specifically in the specification, an alkyl group is optionally substituted.

The term “lipidic nanoparticle”, or “LNP”, refers to particles having a diameter of from about 5 to 500 nm. In some embodiments, the lipid nanoparticle comprises one or more active agents. In some embodiments, the lipid nanoparticle comprises a nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is condensed in the interior of the nanoparticle with a cationic lipid, polymer, or polyvalent small molecule and an external lipid coat that interacts with the biological milieu. Due to the repulsive forces between phosphate groups, nucleic acids are naturally stiff polymers and prefer elongated configurations. In the cell, to cope with volume constraints DNA can pack itself in the appropriate solution conditions with the help of ions and other molecules. Usually, DNA condensation is defined as the collapse of extended DNA chains into compact, orderly particles containing only one or a few molecules. By binding to phosphate groups, cationic lipidic can condense DNA by neutralizing the phosphate charges and allow close packing.

In some embodiments, the active agent is encapsulated into the LNP. In some embodiments, the active agent can be an anionic compounds, for example, but not limited to DNA, RNA, natural and synthetic oligonucleotides (including antisense oligonucleotides, interfering RNA and small interfering RNA), nucleoprotein, peptide, nucleic acid, ribozyme, DNA-containing nucleoprotein, such as an intact or partially deproteinated viral particles (virions), oligomeric and polymeric anionic compounds other than DNA (for example, acid polysaccharides and glycoproteins)). In some embodiments, the active agent can be intermixed with an adjuvant.

In a LNP vaccine product, the active agent is generally contained in the interior of the LNP. In some embodiments, the active agent comprises a nucleic acid. Typically, water soluble nucleic acids are condensed with cationic lipids or polycationic polymers in the interior of the particle and the surface of the particle is enriched in neutral lipids or PEG-lipid derivatives. Additional ionizable cationic lipid may also be at the surface and respond to acidification in the environment by becoming positively charged, facilitating endosomal escape.

Ionizable lipids can have different properties or functions with respect to LNPs. Due to the pKa of the amino group, the lipid molecules can become positively charged in acidic conditions. Under these conditions, lipid molecules can electrostatically bind to the phosphate groups of the nucleic acid which allows the formation of LNPs and the entrapment of the nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the pKa can be low enough that it renders the LNP substantially neutral in surface charge in biological fluids, such as blood, which are at physiological pH values. High LNP surface charge is associated with toxicity, rapid clearance from the circulation by the fixed and free macrophages, hemolytic toxicities, including immune activation (Filion et al Biochim Biophys Acta. 1997 Oct. 23; 1329(2):345-56).

In some embodiments, pKa can be high enough that the ionizable cationic lipid can adopt a positively charged form at acidic endosomal pH values. This way, the cationic lipids can combine with endogenous endosomal anionic lipids to promote membrane lytic nonbilayer structures such as the hexagonal HII phase, resulting in more efficient intracellular delivery. In some embodiments, the pKa ranges between 6.2-6.5. For example, the pKa can be about 6.2, about 6.3, about 6.4, about 6.5. Unsaturated tails also contribute to the lipids' ability to adopt nonbilayer structures. (Jayaraman et al., Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2012 Aug. 20; 51(34):8529-33).

Release of nucleic acids from LNP formulations, among other characteristics such as liposomal clearance and circulation half-life, can be modified by the presence of polyethylene glycol and/or sterols (e.g. cholesterol) or other potential additives in the LNP, as well as the overall chemical structure, including pKa of any ionizable cationic lipid included as part of the formulation.

The term “bioreducible” refers to compounds that undergo accelerated degradation due to the cleavage of disulfide linkages in a reductive environment. Unlike other nucleic acid therapeutics such as siRNA, the success of mRNA-based therapies depends on the availability of a safe and efficient delivery vehicle that encapsulates the mRNA. mRNA is fragile and needs a protective coating for it to remain active until it reaches its target site. mRNA containing LNPs are a promising vaccine option for Covid-19 immunity (Jackson et al., Preliminary Report. N Engl J Med. 2020 Nov. 12; 383(20):1920-1931). The efficiency and tolerability of LNPs has been attributed to the amino lipid and unlike many biomaterial applications that may have a required service lifetime of weeks or months, functional LNP mediated delivery of mRNA occurs within hours obviating the need for persistent lipids. Indeed in applications where chronic dosing is required this will be especially important. It has been demonstrated that LNPs enter cells via endocytosis and accumulate in endolysosomal compartments. ICL is able to effectively deliver mRNA to the cytosol after endocytosis while being susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis in late endosomes/lysosomes by lipases or hydrolysis triggered by the reductive environment of the lysosome allowing complete biodegradation. The extracellular space is a relatively oxidative environment, while the intracellular space is a reductive one, allowing a disulfide linked molecule to remain intact in the extracellular space but be rapidly reduced once internalized (Huang et al., Mol Ther. 2005 March; 11(3):409-17, 2005). Some embodiments, provide bioreducible disulfide linked ICL molecules (see compounds 29-36, Table 2) that are stable in LNP formulation and while in circulation but undergo cleavage in the reductive environment of the lysosome. Such compounds and compositions can facilitate rapid biological destruction of the lipids and can prevent potentially toxic accumulation of ICL lipids (as observed in rats with DLin-MC3-DMA (Sabins et al., Mol Ther. 2018 Jun. 6; 26(6):1509-1519).

The terms “encapsulation” and “entrapped,” as used herein, refer to the incorporation or association of the mRNA, DNA, siRNA or other nucleic acid pharmaceutical agent in or with a lipidic nanoparticle. As used herein, the term “encapsulated” refers to complete encapsulation or partial encapsulation. A siRNA may be capable of selectively knocking down or down regulating expression of a gene of interest. For example, an siRNA could be selected to silence a gene associated with a particular disease, disorder, or condition upon administration to a subject in need thereof of a nanoparticle composition including the siRNA. A siRNA may comprise a sequence that is complementary to an mRNA sequence that encodes a gene or protein of interest.

The term “mol %” with regard to cholesterol refers to the molar amount of cholesterol relative to the sum of the molar amounts of cholesterol and non-PEGylated phospholipid expressed in percentage points. For example, “55 mol. % cholesterol” in a liposome containing cholesterol and HSPC refers to the composition of 55 mol. parts of cholesterol per 45 mol. parts of HSPC.

The term “mol %” with regard to PEG-lipid refers to the ratio of the molar amount of PEG-lipid and non-PEGylated phospholipid expressed in percentage points. For example, “5 mol. % PEG-DSPE” in a LNP containing HSPC and PEG-DSPE refers to the composition having 5 mol. parts of PEG-DSPE per 100 mol. parts of HSPC.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient” includes without limitation any adjuvant, carrier, excipient, glidant, sweetening agent, diluent, preservative, dye/colorant, flavor enhancer, surfactant, wetting agent, dispersing agent, suspending agent, stabilizer, isotonic agent, solvent, or emulsifier which has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as being acceptable for use in humans or domestic animals.

Various aspects and embodiments are described in further detail in the following subsections.

Compounds

Disclosed herein are compounds of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are useful in the preparation of vaccines. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising the cationic lipids of Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula IV or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In some embodiments, the vaccine is used for the prevention Mycobacterium infections. In some embodiments, the vaccine can be used for the prevention of tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), nontuberculosis lung disease, leprosy, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium ulcerans, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium abscessus and other infectious diseases such as coronaviruses (COVID-19, SARS CoV2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV), diphtheria, ebola, flu (Influenza), hepatitis, Hib disease, HIV/AIDS, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), malaria, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, norovirus, plague, pneumococcal disease, polio, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, rubella (German Measles), shingles (Herpes Zoster), tetanus (Lockjaw), whooping cough (Pertussis) and zika.

Provided herein are compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis. According to aspects of the disclosure, the cationic lipids comprise the compounds having Formula I, II, III or IV or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. In some embodiments, the cationic lipids two fatty acyl groups as in Formula II, II, III or IV. Lipids disclosed herein comprise at least two carbon-carbon double bonds (olefins) spaced with at least two methylene or substituted methylene groups, wherein the substituted methylene is —C(R₁)(R₂)— wherein R₁ and R₂ are independently H, alkyl, or halogen.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a compound of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein Y is independently a methyl or ethyl group, wherein the two fatty acyl groups have between 16-18 carbons and contain two unconjugated olefins.

In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 16 carbons. In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 17 carbons. In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 18 carbons.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides for a compound of Formula II or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein R is a substituent comprising a dialkylamino group of one of the structures shown above, wherein the two fatty acyl groups are between 16-18 carbons and contain two olefins that are separated by at least two methylene groups.

In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 16 carbons. In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 17 carbons. In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 18 carbons.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides for a compound of Formula III or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof:

wherein Y is a methyl or ethyl group, wherein the two fatty acyl groups are disulfide fatty acyl groups having between 16-18 carbons and containing a single olefin.

In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 16 carbons. In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 17 carbons. In some embodiments, the two fatty acyl groups have 18 carbons.

In some embodiments, the compound in Formula I-III has a pKa between 6 and 7. In some embodiments, a lipidic nanoparticle composition comprises lipids and nucleic acids, the lipidic nanoparticles comprising a compound of Formula I, II, III, combinations thereof or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In some embodiments, an LNP comprises an ionizable lipid having a structure of Formula (IV):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Y is

each R²² is independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or heteroalkyl, each of which is optionally substituted with R^(B); each R^(B) is independently alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; n is an integer between 1 and 10 (inclusive); and

denotes the attachment point.

In some embodiments, Y is

In some embodiments, the compound in Formula IV has a pKa between 6 and 7.

In some embodiments, the compounds have the structure of the compounds listed in Table 1 or Table 2. Table 1 shows examples of cationic lipids. Table 2 shows examples of bioreducible cationic lipids.

In some embodiments, the compound has a structure as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Exemplary cationic lipids

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

In some embodiments, the compound has a structure as shown in Table 2. In some embodiments, the compound has a structure as shown in Table 2 and is bioreducible.

TABLE 2 Exemplary bioreducible cationic lipids

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

The present disclosure features a lipid nanoparticle comprising nucleic acids such as DNA, mRNA, siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR components such as a guide RNA (gRNA or sgRNA) and a CRISPR-associated endonuclease (Cas protein) and a lipid. Exemplary lipids include ionizable cationic lipids (ICLs), phospholipids, sterol lipids, alkylene glycol lipids (e.g., polyethylene glycol lipids), sphingolipids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, prenol lipids, saccharolipids, fatty acids, and polyketides. In some embodiments, the LNP comprises a single type of lipid. In some embodiments, the LNP comprises a plurality (e.g. two or more) of lipids. An LNP may comprise one or more of an ionizable cationic lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, or an alkylene glycol lipid (e.g., a polyethylene glycol lipid).

In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an ionizable cationic lipid. As used herein “ionizable cationic lipid”, “ionizable lipid” and “ICL” are used interchangeably. An ICL is a lipid that comprises an ionizable moiety capable of bearing a charge (e.g., a positive charge e.g., a cationic lipid) under certain conditions (e.g., at a certain pH range, e.g., under physiological conditions). The ionizable moiety may comprise an amine, and preferably a substituted amine. An ionizable lipid may be a cationic lipid or an anionic lipid. In addition to an ionizable moiety, an ionizable lipid may contain an alkyl or alkenyl group, e.g., greater than six carbon atoms in length (e.g., greater than about 8 carbons, 10 carbons, 12 carbons, 14 carbons, 16 carbons, 18 carbons, 20 carbons or more in length). Additional ionizable lipids that may be included in an LNP described herein are disclosed in Jayaraman et al. (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 51:8529-8533 (2012)), Semple et al. Nature Biotechnol. 28:172-176 (2010)), and U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,710,200 and 8,754,062, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, an LNP comprises an ionizable lipid having a structure of Formula (IV):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Y is

each R²² is independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or heteroalkyl, each of which is optionally substituted with R^(B); each R^(B) is independently alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; n is an integer between 1 and 10 (inclusive); and

denotes the attachment point.

In some embodiments, Y is

An LNP may comprise an ionizable lipid at a concentration greater than about 0.1 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an ionizable lipid at a concentration of greater than about 1 mol %, about 2 mol %, about 4 mol %, about 8 mol %, about 20 mol %, about 40 mol %, about 50 mol %, about 60 mol %, about 80 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an ionizable lipid at a concentration of greater than about 20 mol %, about 40 mol %, or about 50 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an ionizable lipid at a concentration between about 1 mol % to about 95 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an ionizable lipid at a concentration between about 2 mol % to about 90 mol %, about 4 mol % to about 80 mol %, about 10 mol % to about 70 mol %, about 20 mol % to about 60 mol %, about 40 mol % to about 55 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an ionizable lipid at a concentration between about 20 mol % to about 60 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an ionizable lipid at a concentration between about 40 mol % to about 55 mol %.

In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a phospholipid. A phospholipid is a lipid that comprises a phosphate group and at least one alkyl, alkenyl, or heteroalkyl chain. A phospholipid may be naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring (e.g., a synthetic phospholipid). A phospholipid may comprise an amine, amide, ester, carboxyl, choline, hydroxyl, acetal, ether, carbohydrate, sterol, or a glycerol. In some embodiments, a phospholipid may comprise a phosphocholine, phosphosphingolipid, or a plasmalogen. Exemplary phospholipids include 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DOPE), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC), 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC), 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-di stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE), 1-myristoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (MOPC), 1,2-diarachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DAPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PLPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), 1-stearoyl-2-myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SMPC), 1-palmitoyl-2-myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PMPC), bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate (BMP), L-α-phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-Diheptadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine (DHDPC), and 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SAPC). Additional phospholipids that may be included in an LNP described herein are disclosed in Li, J. et al. (Asian J. Pharm. Sci. 10:81-98 (2015)), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, an LNP comprises a phospholipid having a structure of Formula (V):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each R²³ is independently alkyl, alkenyl, or heteroalkyl; wherein each alkyl, alkenyl, or heteroalkyl is optionally substituted with R^(C); each R²⁵ is independently hydrogen or alkyl; R²⁴ is absent, hydrogen, or alkyl; each R^(C) is independently alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; m is an integer between 1 and 4 (inclusive); and u is 2 or 3.

In some embodiments, each R²³ is independently alkyl (e.g., C₂-C₃₂ alkyl, C₄-C₂₈ alkyl, C₈-C₂₄ alkyl, C₁₂-C₂₂ alkyl, or C₁₆-C₂₀ alkyl). In some embodiments, each R²³ is independently alkenyl (e.g., C₂-C₃₂ alkyl, C₄-C₂₈ alkenyl, C₈-C₂₄ alkenyl, C₁₂-C₂₂ alkenyl, or C₁₆-C₂₀ alkenyl). In some embodiments, each R²³ is independently heteroalkyl (e.g., C₄-C₂₈heteroalkyl, C₈-C₂₄heteroalkyl, C₁₂-C₂₂heteroalkyl, C₁₆-C₂₀ heteroalkyl). In some embodiments, each R²³ is independently C₁₆-C₂₀ alkyl. In some embodiments, each R²³ is independently C₁₇ alkyl. In some embodiments, each R²³ is independently heptadecyl. In some embodiments, each R²³ is the same. In some embodiments, each R²³ is different. In some embodiments, each R²³ is optionally substituted with R^(C). In some embodiments, R^(C) is independently alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl.

In some embodiments, one of R²⁵ is hydrogen. In some embodiments, one of R²⁵ is alkyl. In some embodiments, one of R²⁵ is methyl. In some embodiments, each R²⁵ is independently alkyl. In some embodiments, each R²⁵ is independently methyl. In some embodiments, each R²⁵ is independently methyl and u is 2. In some embodiments, each R²⁵ is independently methyl and u is 3.

In some embodiments, R²⁴ is absent, and the oxygen to which it is attached carries a negative charge. In some embodiments, R²⁴ is hydrogen.

In some embodiments, m is an integer between 1 and 10, 1 and 8, 1 and 6, 1 and 4. In some embodiments, m is 1, 2, 3, or 4. In some embodiments, m is 1. In some embodiments, m is 2. In some embodiments, m is 3. In some embodiments, the phospholipid is 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC). In some embodiments, the phospholipid is 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero phosphocholine (DOPC). In some embodiments, the phospholipid is 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC). In some embodiments, the phospholipid is 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero phosphoethanolamine (DOPE).

An LNP may comprise a phospholipid at a concentration greater than about 0.1 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a phospholipid at a concentration of greater than about 0.5 mol %, about 1 mol %, about 1.5 mol %, about 2 mol %, about 3 mol %, about 4 mol %, about 5 mol %, about 6 mol %, about 8 mol %, about 10 mol %, about 12 mol %, about 15 mol %, about 20 mol %, about 50 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a phospholipid at a concentration of greater than about 1 mol %, about 5 mol %, or about 10 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a phospholipid at a concentration between about 0.1 mol % to about 50 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a phospholipid at a concentration between about 0.5 mol % to about 40 mol %, about 1 mol % to about 30 mol %, about 5 mol % to about 25 mol %, about 10 mol % to about 20 mol %, about 10 mol % to about 15 mol %, or about 15 mol % to about 20 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a phospholipid at a concentration between about 5 mol % to about 25 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a phospholipid at a concentration between about 10 mol % to 20 mol %.

In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a sterol or ionizable sterol molecule. A sterol is a lipid that comprises a polycyclic structure and an optionally a hydroxyl or ether substituent, and may be naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring (e.g., a synthetic sterol). Sterols may comprise no double bonds, a single double bond, or multiple double bonds. Sterols may further comprise an alkyl, alkenyl, halo, ester, ketone, hydroxyl, amine, polyether, carbohydrate, or cyclic moiety. Sterol may further contain a bioreducible disulfide linkage between the dialkylamino group and the polycyclic portion of the molecule (see Table 2, Compounds 35-38). An exemplary listing of sterols includes cholesterol, dehydroergosterol, ergosterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lanosterol, dihydrolanosterol, desmosterol, brassicasterol, lathosterol, zymosterol, 7-dehydrodesmosterol, avenasterol, campestanol, lupeol, and cycloartenol. In some embodiments, the sterol comprises cholesterol, dehydroergosterol, ergosterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, or stigmasterol. Additional sterols that may be included in an LNP described herein are disclosed in Fahy, E. et al. (J. Lipid. Res. 46:839-862 (2005).

Ionizable Sterols

In some embodiments, an LNP comprises a sterol having a structure of Formula (VI): (VI) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R²⁶ is hydrogen, alkyl, heteroalkyl, or —C(O)R^(D), R²⁷ is hydrogen, alkyl, or —OR^(E); each of R^(D) and R^(E) is independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl, wherein each alkyl, alkenyl, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl is optionally substituted with alkyl, halo, or carbonyl; and each “ ” is either a single or double bond, and wherein each carbon atom participating in the single or double bond is bound to 0, 1, or 2 hydrogens, valency permitting.

In some embodiments, one of “ ” is a single bond. In some embodiments, one of “ ” is a double bond. In some embodiments, two of “ ” are single bonds. In some embodiments, two of “

” are double bonds. In some embodiments, each “

” is a single bond. In some embodiments, each “

” is a double bond.

In some embodiments, the sterol is cholesterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is dehydroergosterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is ergosterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is campesterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is β-sitosterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is stigmasterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is a corticosteroid. (e.g., corticosterone, hydrocortisone, cortisone, or aldosterone)

An LNP may comprise a sterol at a concentration greater than about 0.1 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a sterol at a concentration greater than about 0.5 mol %, about 1 mol %, about 5 mol %, about 10 mol %, about 15 mol %, about 20 mol %, about 25 mol %, about 35 mol %, about 40 mol %, about 45 mol %, about 50 mol %, about 55 mol %, about 60 mol %, about 65 mol %, or about 70 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a sterol at a concentration greater than about 10 mol %, about 15 mol %, about 20 mol %, or about 25 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a sterol at a concentration between about 1 mol % to about 95 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a sterol at a concentration between about 5 mol % to about 90 mol %, about 10 mol % to about 85 mol %, about 20 mol % to about 80 mol %, about 20 mol % to about 60 mol %, about 20 mol % to about 50 mol %, or about 20 mol % to 40 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a sterol at a concentration between about 20 mol % to about 50 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a sterol at a concentration between about 30 mol % to about 60 mol %.

In some embodiments, the LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid. An alkylene glycol-containing lipid is a lipid that comprises at least one alkylene glycol moiety, for example, a methylene glycol or an ethylene glycol moiety. In some embodiments, the alkylene glycol-containing lipid comprises a polyethylene glycol (PEG). An alkylene glycol-containing lipid may be a PEG-containing lipid. Polymer-conjugated lipids may include poly(ethylene glycol)-conjugated (pegylated)phospholipids (PEG-lipids) such as PEG(Mol. weight 2,000) methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycerol (PEG-DSG), PEG(Mol. weight 2,000) methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-1,2-palmitoyl-sn-glycerol (PEG-DPG), PEG(Mol. weight 2,000) 1,2-di stearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (PEG-DSPE) or N-palmitoyl-sphingosine-1-{succinyl[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)2000]} (PEG-ceramide). The molecular weight of the PEG portion in the PEG-lipid component can also vary from 500-10,000 g/mol, from 1,500-6000 g/mol, but is preferably about 2,000 MW. Other polymers used for conjugation to lipid anchors may include poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOZ), poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOZ), poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyglycerol, poly(hydroxyethyl L-asparagine) (PHEA), and poly(hydroxyethyl L-glutamine) (PHEG).

A PEG-containing lipid may further comprise an amine, amide, ester, carboxyl, phosphate, choline, hydroxyl, acetal, ether, heterocycle, or carbohydrate. PEG-containing lipids may comprise at least one alkyl or alkenyl group, e.g., greater than six carbon atoms in length (e.g., greater than about 8 carbons, 10 carbons, 12 carbons, 14 carbons, 16 carbons, 18 carbons, 20 carbons or more in length), e.g., in addition to a PEG moiety. In an embodiment, a PEG-containing lipid comprises a PEG moiety comprising at least 20 PEG monomers, e.g., at least 30 PEG monomers, 40 PEG monomers, 45 PEG monomers, 50 PEG monomers, 100 PEG monomers, 200 PEG monomers, 300 PEG monomers, 500 PEG monomers, 1000 PEG monomers, or 2000 PEG monomers. Exemplary PEG-containing lipids include PEG-DMG (e.g., DMG-PEG2k), PEG-c-DMG, PEG-DSG, PEG-DPG, PEG-DSPE, PEG-DMPE, PEG-DPPE, PEG-DOPE, and PEG-DLPE. In some embodiments, the PEG-lipids include PEG-DMG (e.g., DMG-PEG2k), PEG-c-DMG, PEG-DSG, and PEG-DPG. Additional PEG-lipids that may be included in an LNP described herein are disclosed in Fahy, E. et al. (J. Lipid. Res. 46:839-862 (2005) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In some embodiments, an LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid having a structure of Formula (VII):

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein each R²⁸ is independently alkyl, alkenyl, or heteroalkyl, each of which is optionally substituted with R^(F); A is absent, O, CH₂, C(O), or NH; E is absent, alkyl, or heteroalkyl, wherein alkyl or heteroalkyl is optionally substituted with carbonyl; each R^(F) is independently alkyl, halo, hydroxy, amino, cycloalkyl, or heterocyclyl; and z is an integer between 10 and 200 (inclusive).

In some embodiments, each R²⁸ is independently alkyl. In some embodiments, each R²⁸ is independently heteroalkyl. In some embodiments, each R²⁸ is independently alkenyl.

In some embodiments, A is O or NH. In some embodiments, A is CH₂. In some embodiments, A is carbonyl. In some embodiments, A is absent.

In some embodiments, E is alkyl. In some embodiments, E is heteroalkyl. In some embodiments, both A and E are not absent. In some embodiments, A is absent. In some embodiments, E is absent. In some embodiments, either one of A or E is absent. In some embodiments, both A and E are independently absent.

In some embodiments, z is an integer between 10 and 200 (e.g., between 20 and 180, between 20 and 160, between 20 and 120, between 20 and 100, between 40 and 80, between 40 and 60, between 40 and 50). In some embodiments, z is 45.

In some embodiments, the PEG-lipid is PEG-DMG (e.g., DMG-PEG2k). In some embodiments, the PEG-lipid is α-(3′-{[1,2-di(myristyloxy)propanoxy] carbonylamino}propyl)-ω-methoxy, polyoxyethylene (PEG-c-DMG). In some embodiments, the PEG-lipid is PEG-DSG. In some embodiments, the PEG-lipid is PEG-DPG. An LNP may comprise an alkylene glycol-containing lipid at a concentration greater than about 0.1 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid at a concentration of greater than about 0.5 mol %, about 1 mol %, about 1.5 mol %, about 2 mol %, about 3 mol %, about 4 mol %, about 5 mol %, about 6 mol %, about 8 mol %, about 10 mol %, about 12 mol %, about 15 mol %, about 20 mol %, about 50 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid at a concentration of greater than about 1 mol %, about 4 mol %, or about 6 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid at a concentration between about 0.1 mol % to about 50 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid at a concentration between about 0.5 mol % to about 40 mol %, about 1 mol % to about 35 mol %, about 1.5 mol % to about 30 mol %, about 2 mol % to about 25 mol %, about 2.5 mol % to about 20%, about 3 mol % to about 15 mol %, about 3.5 mol % to about 10 mol %, or about 4 mol % to 9 mol %, e.g., of the total lipid composition of the LNP. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid at a concentration between about 3.5 mol % to about 10 mol %. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises an alkylene glycol-containing lipid at a concentration between about 4 mol % to 9 mol %.

In some embodiments, the LNP comprises at least two types of lipids. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises two of an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, and an alkylene glycol-containing lipid. In some embodiments, the LNP comprises at least three types of lipids. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises three of an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, and an alkylene glycol-containing lipid. In some embodiments, the LNP comprises at least four types of lipids. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises each of an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, and an alkylene glycol-containing lipid.

The LNP (e.g., as described herein) may comprise one or more of the following components: (i) an ionizable cationic lipid at a concentration between about 1 mol % to about 95 mol % (e.g. about 20 mol % to about 80 mol %); (ii) a phospholipid at a concentration between 0.1 mol % to about 50 mol % (e.g. between about 2.5 mol % to about 20 mol %); (iii) a sterol at a concentration between about 1 mol % to about 95 mol % (e.g. about 20 mol % to about 80 mol %); and (iv) a PEG-containing lipid at a concentration between about 0.1 mol % to about 50 mol % (e.g. between about 2.5 mol % to about 20 mol %). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises one of (i)-(iv). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises two of (i)-(iv). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises three of (i)-(iv). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises each of (i)-(iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i) and (ii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i) and (iii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i) and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (ii) and (iii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (ii) and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (iii) and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i), (ii), and (iii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i), (ii), and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (ii), (iii), and (iv).

The LNP (e.g., as described herein) may comprise one or more of the following components: (i) Ionizable cationic lipid (ICL) at a concentration between about 1 mol % to about 95 mol % (e.g. about 20 mol % to about 80 mol %); (ii) DSPC at a concentration between 0.1 mol % to about 50 mol % (e.g. between about 2.5 mol % to about 20 mol %); (iii) cholesterol at a concentration between about 1 mol % to about 95 mol % (e.g. about 20 mol % to about 80 mol %); and (iv) DMG-PEG2k at a concentration between about 0.1 mol % to about 50 mol % (e.g. between about 2.5 mol % to about 20 mol %). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises two of (i)-(iv). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises three of (i)-(iv). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises each of (i)-(iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i) and (ii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i) and (iii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i) and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (ii) and (iii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (ii) and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (iii) and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (iii) and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i), (ii), and (iii). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (i), (ii), and (iv). In some embodiments, the LNP comprises (ii), (iii), and (iv).

In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a ratio of ionizable lipid to phospholipid of about 50:1 to about 1:1 (e.g., 40:1, 32:3, 6:1, 7:1, 5:1, 24:5, 26:5, 10:3, 15:2, 16:7, 18:1, 3:1, 3:2, or 1:1). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a ratio of ionizable lipid to phospholipid of about 15:2. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a ratio of ionizable lipid to phospholipid of about 5:1. In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a ratio of ionizable lipid to a sterol of about 10:1 to about 1:10 (e.g., 9:1, 8:1, 8:7, 7:1, 7:5, 7:3, 6:1, 6:5, 5:1, 5:3, 4:1, 4:3, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 3:4, 1:4, 3:5, 1:5, 4:5, 1:6, 5:6, 7:6, 7:8, or 8:9). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a ratio of ionizable lipid to an alkylene-containing lipid of about 1:10 to about 10:1 (e.g., 1:9, 1:8, 7:8, 7:1, 7:5, 7:3, 6:1, 6:5, 5:1, 5:3, 4:1, 4:3, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 3:4, 1:4, 3:5, 1:5, 4:5, 1:6, 5:6, 7:6, 7:8, or 8:9). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a ratio of phospholipid to an alkylene-containing lipid of about 10:1 to about 1:10 (e.g., 9:1, 8:1, 8:7, 7:1, 7:5, 7:3, 6:1, 6:5, 5:1, 5:3, 4:1, 4:3, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 3:4, 1:4, 3:5, 1:5, 4:5, 1:6, 5:6, 7:6, 7:8, or 8:9). In an embodiment, the LNP comprises a ratio of a sterol to an alkylene-containing lipid of about 50:1 to about 1:1 (e.g., 40:1, 32:3, 6:1, 7:1, 5:1, 24:1, 22:1, 20:1, 22:5, 24:5, 26:5, 10:3, 15:2, 16:7, 18:1, 3:1, 3:2, or 1:1).

In an embodiment, a LNP (e.g., described herein) comprises two of an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, and an alkylene glycol-containing lipid (e.g., PEG-containing lipid). In another embodiment, a LNP (e.g., described herein) comprises three of an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, and an alkylene glycol-containing lipid (e.g., PEG-containing lipid). In an embodiment LNP (e.g., described herein) comprises each of an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, and an alkylene glycol-containing lipid (e.g., PEG-containing lipid).

In some embodiments, an LNP described herein has a diameter between 5 and 500 nm, e.g., between 10 and 400 nm, 20 and 350 nm, 25 and 325 nm, 30 and 300 nm, 50 and 250 nm, 60 and 200 nm, 75 and 190 nm, 80 and 180 nm, 100 and 200 nm, 200 and 300 nm, and 150 and 250 nm. The diameter of an LNP may be determined by any method known in the art, for example, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) or scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In some embodiments, an LNP has a diameter between 50 and 100 nm, between 70 and 100 nm, and between 80 and 100 nm. In an embodiment, an LNP has a diameter of about 90 nm. In some embodiments, an LNP described herein has a diameter greater than about 30 nm. In some embodiments, an LNP has a diameter greater than about 35 nm, about 40 nm, about 45 nm, about 50 nm, about 60 nm, about 70 nm, about 80 nm, about 90 nm, about 100 nm, about 120 nm, about 140 nm, about 160 nm, about 180 nm, about 200 nm, about 225 nm, about 250 nm, about 275 nm or about 300 nm. In an embodiment, an LNP has a diameter greater than about 70 nm. In an embodiment, an LNP has a diameter greater than about 90 nm. In an embodiment, an LNP has a diameter greater than about 180 nm.

In some embodiments, a plurality of LNPs described herein has an average diameter ranging from about 40 nm to about 180 nm. In some embodiments, a plurality of LNPs described herein has an average diameter from about 50 nm to about 150 nm. In some embodiments, a plurality of LNPs described herein has an average diameter from about 50 nm to about 120 nm. In some embodiments, a plurality of LNPs described herein has an average diameter from about 60 nm to about 120 nm. In some embodiments, a plurality of LNPs has an average diameter of about 40 nm, about 45 nm, about 50 nm, about 60 nm, about 70 nm, about 80 nm, about 90 nm, about 100 nm, about 120 nm, about 140 nm, about 160 nm, about 180 nm

In some embodiments, a nanoparticle or plurality of nanoparticles described herein has an average neutral to negative surface charge of less than −100 mv, for example, less than −90 mv, −80 mv, −70 mv, −60 mv, −50 mv, −40 mv, −30 mv, and −20 mv. In some embodiments, a nanoparticle or plurality of nanoparticles has a neutral to negative surface charge of between −100 mv and 100 mv, between −75 mv to 0, or between −50 mv and −10 mv.

In some embodiments, at least 5% (e.g., at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20%, at least 25%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 99%) of the nanoparticles of a plurality of nanoparticles have an average neutral to negative surface charge of less than −100 mv. In some embodiments, a nanoparticle or plurality of nanoparticles has an average surface charge of between −20 mv to +20, between −10 mv and +10 mv, or between −5 mv and +5 mv at pH 7.4. LNPs that are neutral in charge have improved pharmacokinetics and biological performance compared to cationic LNPs.

Making Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs)

The method of making an LNP can comprise mixing a first solution with a second solution. Mixing can be achieved using standard liquid mixing techniques, such as propellor mixing, vortexing solutions or preferably through microfluidic mixing or high efficiency T-mixing. In some embodiments, the first solution comprises a lipid or a plurality of lipids and a nucleic acid, where all components are solubilized, in water/solvent system. The solvent may be any water miscible solvent (e.g., ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, dioxane or tetrahydrofuran). In some embodiments, the first solution comprises a small percentage of water or pH buffered water. The first solution may comprise up to at least 60% by volume of water, e.g., up to at least about 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55% or 60% by volume of water. In an embodiment, the first solution comprises between about 0.05% and 60% by volume of water, e.g., between about 0.05% and 50%, about 0.05% and 40%, or about 5% and 20% by volume of water.

In some embodiments, the first solution comprises a single type of lipid, for example, an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, or a PEG-containing lipid. In some embodiments, the first solution comprises a plurality of lipids. In some embodiments, the plurality comprises an ionizable lipid, a phospholipid, a sterol, or a PEG-containing lipid. In some embodiments, the plurality of lipids comprise cholesterol, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC), 1,2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero-3-methylpolyoxyethylene2000 (DMG-PEG2k) or α-(3′-{[1,2-di(myristyloxy)propanoxy] carbonylamino}propyl)-w-methoxy, polyoxyethylene (PEG2000-C-DMG), and an ionizable lipid. The plurality of lipids may exist in any ratio. In an embodiment, the plurality of lipids comprises an ionizable lipid or sterol, a phospholipid, a sterol, a PEG-containing lipid of the above lipids or a combination thereof in a particular ratio (e.g., a ratio described herein).

In some embodiments, the second solution is water. In some embodiments, the second solution is an aqueous buffer with a pH between 3-6 (e.g., a pH of about 3, about 4, about 5, or about 6). The second solution may comprise a load component, e.g., a nucleic acid (e.g., mRNA). The second solution may comprise a small percentage of water-miscible organic solvent. The second solution may comprise up to at least 60% by volume of at least one water miscible organic solvent, e.g., up to at least about 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60% or any percent therebetween by volume of at least one organic solvent (e.g., a water miscible organic solvent). In an embodiment, the second solution comprises between about 0.05% and 60% by volume of organic solvent, e.g., between about 0.05% and 50%, about 0.05% and 40%, or about 5% and 20% by volume of organic solvent (e.g., a water miscible organic solvent). The aqueous buffer solution can be an aqueous solution of citrate buffer. In some embodiments, the aqueous buffer solution is a citrate buffer solution with a pH between 4-6 (e.g., a pH of about 4, about 5, or about 6). In an embodiment, the aqueous buffer solution is a citrate buffer solution with a pH of about 6.

In some embodiments, the solution comprising a mixture of the first and second solutions comprising the LNP suspension can be diluted. In some embodiments, the pH of the solution comprising a mixture of the first and second solutions comprising the LNP suspension can be adjusted. Dilution or adjustment of the pH of the LNP suspension can be achieved with the addition of water, acid, base or aqueous buffer. In some embodiments, no dilution or adjustment of the pH of the LNP suspension is carried out. In some embodiments, both dilution and adjustment of the pH of the LNP suspension is carried out.

In some embodiments, excess reagents, solvents, unencapsulated nucleic acid maybe removed from the LNP suspension by tangential flow filtration (TFF) (e.g., diafiltration). The organic solvent (e.g., ethanol) and buffer may also be removed from the LNP suspension with TFF. In some embodiments, the LNP suspension is subjected to dialysis and not TFF. In some embodiments, the LNP suspension is subjected to TFF and not dialysis. In some embodiments, the LNP suspension is subjected to both dialysis and TFF.

In one aspect, the present disclosure features a method comprising treating a sample of LNPs comprising nucleic acid, with a fluid comprising a detergent (e.g., Triton X-100, or anionic detergents (such as, but not limited to, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), or non-ionic detergent, such as but not limited to β-octylglucoside, or Zwittergent 3-14) for a period of time suitable to degrade the lipid layer and thereby release the encapsulated and/or entrapped nucleic acid(s). In an embodiment, the method further comprises analyzing the sample for the presence, absence, and/or amount of the released nucleic acid(s).

LNP Comprising Ligands

Some aspects of the disclosure relate to LNP comprising a ligand (also referred herein as targeting ligand) having a binding specificity for a cell surface antigen, wherein the binding of the ligand to the antigen induces the internalization of the ligand. Some embodiments relate to compositions comprising LNP comprising a ligand as described herein.

In some embodiment, the targeting ligand is coupled to a lipid conjugate. For example, the lipid conjugate can be a hydrophilic polymer-lipid conjugate such as, but not limited to, PEG(2000)-DSPE or PEG(2000)-DSG. Coupling can be achieved by a variety of chemistries know in the art (for example, see Bioconjugates Techniques (Greg T. Hermanson), 3rd Edition, 2013, Elsevier). In some embodiment, the targeting ligand is coupled to the lipid conjugate through a linker. The linker molecule generally contains a hydrophilic polymer chain, such as PEG-terminally linked to a lipid domain (phospholipid or sterol) and contains a thiol-reactive functional group such as a maleimide at the terminus. The linkers comprising PEG spacers of size, phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipid anchors of various hydrocarbon chain length, and terminal maleimide or iodoacetate groups are currently commercially available from Avanti Polar Lipids (Alabama, USA) and NOF Corporation (Japan). One such strategy commonly used is to couple protein to a thiol-reactive lipopolymer linker, such as 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[maleimide(polyethylene glycol)-2000 (Mal-PEG-DSPE). Preferably, the protein of interest is engineered to contain one cysteine in the C-terminus to ensure a single-point conjugation. Alternatively, F(ab)2 or Fab′ can be enzymatically generated from IgGs and by reduction of disulfide bonds with a reducing agent such as dithiothreitol (DTT), mercaptoethylamine, (tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine) TCEP-HCL generate reactive cysteine thiol groups to couple to Mal-PEG-DSPE. The reaction of Mal-PEG-DSPE with reduced cysteine takes place in aqueous buffer at pH 5.5-7.5, for example pH 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, and preferably pH 6.0. The reaction is typically complete within 4 hours. A small amount of cysteine or mercaptoethanol is added to react with unreacted maleimide groups and quenches the coupling reaction. Although it is not necessary to remove unconjugated protein prior to the subsequent membrane insertion step it is useful to purify the conjugate for the purposes of storage and allow more precise characterization. Due to the large size of the lipopolymer micelles (equivalent molecular weight 850 kDa; Nellis et al., 2005a), size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is a convenient way to do so. Characterization of such protein-conjugates is achieved by a variety of techniques. For example, the purity is determined by SEC, molecular weight is quantitated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), protein melting points by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), isoelectric point determination by capillary electrophoresis and target binding affinity by surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore) and biolayer interferometry (ForteBio).

Examples of targeting ligands may be antibodies or antibody fragments against cell surface receptors, including the Her2 receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) receptor, Ephrin A2 receptor, CLEC9A receptor, DEC205 receptor, CLEC4A receptor, XCR1 receptor, CD141 receptor, HLA-DR receptor, transferrin receptor type 1, transferrin receptor type 2, VEGF receptor, PDGF receptor, integrin, NGF receptor, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD33, CD43, CD38, CD56, CD69, prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) or a variety of other cell surface receptors, or glycoconjugates, proteoglycans, glycoproteins, and glycolipids such as the glycoconjugate N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) ligand which binds the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), or small molecule conjugates such as folate-PEG-DSPE which targets the folate receptor.

In one embodiment, the targeting ligand is an anti-DEC205 antibody. DEC-205 (CD205) is a type I cell surface protein expressed primarily by dendritic cells (DC). It is found on interdigitating DC in T cell areas of lymphoid tissues, bone marrow-derived DC, Langerhan's cells, and at low levels on macrophages and T cell and is significantly up-regulated during the maturation of DC. Expression of DEC-205 is positively correlated with that of CD8a, both being found at high levels on lymphoid DC and at low levels on myeloid DC. DEC-205 is also expressed at moderate levels by B cells and is up-regulated during the pre-B cell to B cell transition. Recombinant anti-human DEC205 antibody is commercially available from Creative Biolabs.

In one embodiment, antigen specific targeting on LNPs is achieved by preparing ligand-targeted LNP by co-incubation of LNP with targeting ligand-lipid conjugate. The targeting ligand-lipid conjugate may be prepared prior to LNP preparation (see Nellis et al. Biotechnol Prog. 2005 January-February; 21(1):205-20).

In one embodiment, LNPs are co-incubated with antibody or fragment-PEG-phospholipid micelles or other ligand-conjugate and heated at 37° C. overnight to promote antibody conjugate insertion into the LNP outer membrane (Nellis et al. Biotechnol Prog. 2005 January-February; 21(1):221-32). In another aspect, insertion can be achieved by heating at elevated temperatures for shorter time periods, for example 0.5-8h at 37° C., or preferably 0.5-2h at 37° C. Micellar insertion can be quenched by lowering the temperature quickly by putting the LNPs on ice after which they can be stored in the refrigerator at 4° C. The total amount of lipid conjugate added can be between 0.02%-2% of total lipid, or preferably 0.1%-1%, or preferably 0.1%-0.5% total lipid. The incorporation efficiency of antibody-lipid conjugate can be measured by SDS-PAGE after LNP dissociation by SDS or other detergents by comparison to a standard curve of the same protein (Nellis et al. Biotechnol Prog. 2005 January-February; 21(1):205-20). The insertion efficiency of other targeting ligands can be measured by ultra high performance liquid chromatography equipped with evaporative light scattering detector (UPLC-ELSD) (Gauthier et al., J Mol Sci. 2019 Nov. 12; 20(22):5669).

FIG. 6 shows the reaction of the reduced c-terminal cysteine of a Fab′ antibody fragment with a maleimide terminated-poly(ethylene glycol) 2000 derivatized distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine. R1 and R2 are stearic acid. The final antibody lipopolymer conjugate is an intermediate that is subsequently inserted into the outer lipid layer of lipidic nanoparticle to make it actively targeted.

LNP targeting can also accomplished by adding certain lipids to the formulation. For example, phosphatidylserine is known to redistribute to the external surface of the plasma membrane during apoptosis and is a molecular cue for phagocytotic cell attraction (Fadok et al. Curr Biol. 2003 Aug. 19; 13(16):R655-7). Phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) are recognized by dendritic cells and can induce uptake and activation of dendritic cells. In one embodiment, PS or PG are added to the LNP lipid formulation at a concentration between about 0.1 mol % to about 20 mol %, about 0.1 mol % to about 10 mol %, about 0.1 mol % to about 5 mol %, about 0.5 mol % to about 20 mol %, about 0.5 mol % to about 10 mol %, about 0.5 mol % to about 5 mol %, about 1 mol % to about 20 mol %, about 1 mol % to about 10 mol %, or about 1 mol % to about 5 mol %, of the total lipid composition of the LNP.

In some aspects, a method of delivering a nucleic acid to a cell is provided, the method comprising: contacting the cell with a composition comprising an LNP comprising a ligand (also referred herein as targeting ligand) having a binding specificity for a cell surface antigen, wherein the binding of the ligand to the antigen induces the internalization of the ligand. In some embodiments, the targeting ligand can be, but is not limited to, an internalizing antibody, or a fragment thereof, a small molecule conjugates or glycoconjugates. In some embodiments, the binding of the targeting ligand to a specific cell surface antigen induces the internalization of the LNP with the targeting ligand attached by a cell expressing at least 100,000 or at least 1,000,000 molecules of the antigen when contacted and incubated with the cell under internalizing conditions.

Compositions

In some embodiments, a lipidic nanoparticle composition comprises lipids and nucleic acids, the lipidic nanoparticles comprising a compound provided herein, combinations thereof or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a pharmaceutical excipient.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticles are in an aqueous medium.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is entrapped in the lipidic nanoparticle with a compound disclosed herein or combinations thereof, wherein the nucleic acid is either RNA or DNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is mRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is siRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is DNA.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle comprises a membrane comprising phosphatidylcholine and a sterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is cholesterol. In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle comprises a membrane comprising phosphatidylcholine, ionizable cationic lipid (ICL). In some embodiments, the ICL have a structure of Formula I, II, III or IV, and cholesterol, wherein the membrane separates the inside of the lipidic nanoparticles from the aqueous medium. In some embodiment, the ICL have a structure as shown in Table 1 and Table 2. In some embodiments, the phosphatidylcholine is distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) or hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC). In some embodiments, the ionizable cationic lipid to cholesterol molar ratios is from about 65:35 to 40:60. In some embodiments, the ICL to cholesterol molar ratio is from about 60:40 to about 45:55.

In some embodiments, the phosphatidylcholine to cholesterol molar ratio is from about 1:5 to about 1:2.

In some embodiments, the membrane further comprises a polymer-conjugated lipid.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle comprises ICL, DSPC, cholesterol and polymer-conjugated lipid in a about 49.5:10.3:39.6:2.5 molar ratio.

In some embodiments, the polymer-conjugated lipid is PEG(2000)-dimyristoylglycerol (PEG-DMG) or PEG(Mol. weight 2,000)-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-DMPE).

The compositions of this disclosure may be administered by various routes, for example, to effect systemic delivery via intravenous, parenteral, intraperitoneal, or topical routes. The compositions may be administered intravenously, subcutaneously, or intraperitoneally to a subject. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides methods for in vivo delivery of nucleic acids to a subject.

In some embodiments, the composition is a liquid pharmaceutical formulation for parenteral administration.

In some embodiments, the composition is a liquid pharmaceutical formulation for subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intradermal administration.

In some embodiments, the composition is in the form of a lyophilized powder, that is subsequently reconstituted with aqueous medium prior to administration.

Methods of Use

Disclosed herein are compounds or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are useful in the preparation of vaccines. In some embodiments, the vaccine is used for the prevention Mycobacterium infections. In some embodiments, the vaccine can be used for the prevention of tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), nontuberculosis lung disease, leprosy, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium ulcerans, Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium fortuitum, Mycobacterium abscessus and other infectious diseases such as coronaviruses (COVID-19, SARS CoV2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV), diphtheria, ebola, flu (Influenza), hepatitis, Hib disease, HIV/AIDS, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), malaria, measles, meningococcal disease, mumps, norovirus, plague, pneumococcal disease, polio, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rotavirus, rubella (German Measles), shingles (Herpes Zoster), tetanus (Lockjaw), whooping cough (Pertussis) and zika.

Provided herein are compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases, including tuberculosis.

Targeting of Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells that play a central role in initiating and regulating adaptive immunity. Owing to their potent antigen (Ag) presentation capacity and ability to generate distinct T-cell responses, efficient and specific delivery of Ags to DCs is the cornerstone for generating Ag-specific effector and memory cells against tumors or pathogens.

Dendritic cells can be generated from human blood monocytes by adding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-4, and IFN-gamma to differentiate monocyte-derived DC in vitro. Cells in culture exhibit both dendritic and veiled morphologies, the former being adherent, and the latter suspended. Phenotypically, they are CD1a−/dim, CD11a+, CD11b++, CD11c+, CD14dim/−, CD16a−/dim, CD18+, CD32dim/−, CD33+, CD40+, CD45R0+, CD50+, CD54+, CD64−/dim, CD68+, CD71+, CD80dim, CD86+/++, MHC class I++/, HLA-DR++/, HLA-DP+, and HLA-DQ (Geiseler et al. Dev Immunol. 1998; 6(1-2):25-39).

Alternatively, human primary blood dendritic cell lines have been developed and are commercially available from Creative Biolabs.

CD8+ T cells can produce IL2, IFN-γ, and TNF, cytokines that are known to have critical functions during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Importantly, CD8+ T cells have cytolytic functions to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected cells via granule-mediated function (via perforin, granzymes, and granulysin) or Fas-Fas ligand interaction to induce apoptosis. In humans, CD8+ T cell can produce granulysin, which can kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly. Therefore, it is anticipated that antigen generating mRNA LNPs delivered to DC will stimulate a CD8+ T cell response to fight against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

CD8+ T cells are able to recognize M. tuberculosis specific antigens (as peptides) presented by classical and non-classical MHC molecules. Classically restricted CD8+ T cells have been identified that recognize antigens presented by antigen presenting cells in the context of classical MHC Ia (HLA-A, -B, -C) molecules. Non-classically restricted CD8+ T cells include those CD8+ T cells that are capable of recognizing Mg antigen in the context of HLA-E molecules (non-MHC 1a), glycolipids associated with group 1 CD1 molecules and MHC I-related molecules (MR1) such as mucosal associated invariant T cells (MAIT). Finally, γδ T cells represent a separate population of CD8 (and CD4) T cells that have both innate and adaptive functions in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. CD8+ T cells have been shown to play direct functions in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection but they also play important roles in orchestrating many different functions in the overall host immune response (e.g., interaction to provide optimal CD4 T cell function)

In one embodiment, LNPs can be added to cultured human dendritic cells at an appropriate concentration, (e.g. 1-5 μg/mL mRNA). After some time to allow for cellular uptake and antigen expression, human T cells (HemaCare) can be added, and the cell culture media is sampled at various times for INF-y by Elisa (R&D Systems, DIF50C). Alternatively, the cells can be analyzed by flow cytometry for CD8+ marker or intracellular INFγ production (PE anti-human IFN-γ antibody, Biolegend).

In one embodiment, LNPs can be administered into a subject at a dose of 0.01-5 mg/kg mRNA by any route of administration outlined above. According to some embodiments, a proportion of LNPs are taken up DC cells, while most will accumulate in the liver and spleen. The DC cells can express the antigenic peptide, process it for MHC I presentation and travel to the lymph node for presentation to naïve T cells inducing an education of memory T-cells towards the antigen.

In one embodiment, LNPs that have been modified with a targeting ligand such as anti-DEC205-PEG-DSPE can be administered into a subject at a dose of 0.01-5 mg/kg mRNA. According to some embodiments, a higher proportion of LNPs can be taken up DC cells, allowing for increased production of antigenic peptide compared to non-targeted LNP and a more efficient vaccination against the pathogen. Additional targeting ligands for dendritic cells include, but are not limited to, CLEC9A, CLEC4A, XCR1, CD141, and HLD-DR. For example, assessing the CD8+ reactivity to the in vivo produced antigen could be accomplished by measuring INFγ plasma levels by species specific IFN-gamma Quantikine ELISA Kits from R&D Systems.

In some embodiments, LNP compositions provide desirable pharmacokinetic properties such as extended plasma half-life and stable encapsulation of mRNA. The plasma half-life can be measured as the percentage of the injected dose (ID) remaining in blood after 6 or 24 hours following injection intravenously in immunocompetent mice. The stability of the encapsulation of mRNA over 24 hours in plasma can be determined by changes in the mRNA-to-lipid ratio (mRNA/L ratio) following iv administration in mice. In some embodiments, the percentage of encapsulated mRNA remaining in blood is greater than 20%, preferably greater than 30%, and most preferably greater than 40% of the injected dose at 6 hours. The percent retained in blood after 24 h is preferably greater than 10%, and more preferably greater than 20% of the injected dose.

Disclosed herein are methods for preventing mycobacteria infection, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or gram positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Additional mycobacteria and gram positive bacteria include, but are not limited to, Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium gordonae, Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium mucogenicum, streptococci, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Staphylococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, the viridans group streptococci, Listeria monocytogenes, Nocardia, and Corynebacterium.

Administration of a vaccine for inducing a second immune response may provide MHC class II-presented epitopes that are capable of eliciting a CD4+ helper T cell response against cells expressing antigens from which the MHC presented epitopes are derived. Alternatively or additionally, administration of a vaccine for inducing a second immune response may provide MHC class I-presented epitopes that are capable of eliciting a CD8+ T cell response against cells expressing antigens from which the MHC presented epitopes are derived. Furthermore, administration of a vaccine for inducing a second immune response may provide one or more neo-epitopes (including known neo epitopes) as well as one or more epitopes not containing cancer specific somatic mutations but being expressed by cancer cells and preferably inducing an immune response against cancer cells, preferably a cancer specific immune response. In one embodiment, administration of a vaccine for inducing a second immune response provides neo-epitopes that are MHC class II-presented epitopes and/or are capable of eliciting a CD4+ helper T cell response against cells expressing antigens from which the MHC presented epitopes are derived as well as epitopes not containing cancer-specific somatic mutations that are MHC class I-presented epitopes and/or are capable of eliciting a CD8+ T cell response against cells expressing antigens from which the MHC presented epitopes are derived. In one embodiment, the epitopes do not contain cancer-specific somatic mutations.

A “cellular immune response”, a “cellular response”, a “cellular response against an antigen” or a similar term is meant to include a cellular response directed to cells characterized by presentation of an antigen with class I or class II MHC. The cellular response relates to cells called T cells or T-lymphocytes which act as either “helper cells” or “killer cells”. The helper T cells (also termed CD4+ T cells) play a central role by regulating the immune response and the killer cells (also termed cytotoxic T cells, cytolytic T cells, CD8+ T cells or CTLS) kill diseased cells such as cancer cells, preventing the production of more diseased cells. In preferred embodiments, the present disclosure involves the stimulation of an anti Mycobacterium tuberculosis CTL response against the Mycobacterium expressing one or more expressed antigens and preferably presenting such expressed antigens with class I MHC.

An “antigen” according to the disclosure covers any substance that will elicit an immune response. In particular, an “antigen” relates to any substance, preferably a peptide or protein, that reacts specifically with antibodies or T-lymphocytes (T cells). As used herein, the term “antigen” comprises any molecule which comprises at least one epitope. Preferably, an antigen in the context of the present disclosure is a molecule which, optionally after processing, induces an immune reaction, which is preferably specific for the antigen (including cells expressing the antigen). According to the present disclosure, any suitable antigen may be used, which is a candidate for an immune reaction, wherein the immune reaction is preferably a cellular immune reaction. In the context of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the antigen is preferably presented by a cell, preferably by an antigen presenting cell which includes a diseased cell, in particular a cancer cell, in the context of MHC molecules, which results in an immune reaction against the antigen. An antigen is preferably a product which corresponds to or is derived from a naturally occurring antigen. Such naturally occurring antigens may include tumor antigens.

As used herein, an “antigen peptide” relates to a portion or fragment of an antigen which is capable of stimulating an immune response, preferably a cellular response against the antigen or cells characterized by expression of the antigen and preferably by presentation of the antigen such as diseased cells, in particular cancer cells. Preferably, an antigen peptide is capable of stimulating a cellular response against a cell characterized by presentation of an antigen with class I MHC and preferably is capable of stimulating an antigen-responsive cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL). Preferably, the antigen peptides according to the disclosure are MHC class I and/or class II presented peptides or can be processed to produce MHC class I and/or class II presented peptides. Preferably, the antigen peptides comprise an amino acid sequence substantially corresponding to the amino acid sequence of a fragment of an antigen. Preferably, said fragment of an antigen is an MHC class I and/or class II presented peptide. Preferably, an antigen peptide according to the disclosure comprises an amino acid sequence substantially corresponding to the amino acid sequence of such fragment and is processed to produce such fragment, i.e., an MHC class I and/or class II presented peptide derived from an antigen. If a peptide is to be presented directly, i.e., without processing, in particular without cleavage, it has a length which is suitable for binding to an MHC molecule, in particular a class I MHC molecule, and preferably is 7-20 amino acids in length, more preferably 7-12 amino acids in length, more preferably 8-11 amino acids in length, in particular 9 or 10 amino acids in length.

The main types of professional antigen-presenting cells are dendritic cells, which have the broadest range of antigen presentation, and are probably the most important antigen-presenting cells, macrophages, B-cells, and certain activated epithelial cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) are leukocyte populations that present antigens captured in peripheral tissues to T cells via both MHC class II and I antigen presentation pathways. It is well known that dendritic cells are potent inducers of immune responses and the activation of these cells is a critical step for the induction of antitumoral immunity. Dendritic cells are conveniently categorized as “immature” and “mature” cells, which can be used as a simple way to discriminate between two well characterized phenotypes.

However, this nomenclature should not be construed to exclude all possible intermediate stages of differentiation. Immature dendritic cells are characterized as anti gen presenting cells with a high capacity for antigen uptake and processing, which correlates with the high expression of Fcγ receptor and mannose receptor. The mature phenotype is typically characterized by a lower expression of these markers, but a high expression of cell surface molecules responsible for T cell activation such as class I and class II MHC, adhesion molecules (e.g. CD54 and CD11) and costimulatory molecules (e.g., CD40, CD80, CD86 and 4-1 BB). Dendritic cell maturation is referred to as the status of dendritic cell activation at which such antigen-presenting dendritic cells lead to T cell priming, while presentation by immature dendritic cells results in tolerance. Dendritic cell maturation is chiefly caused by biomolecules with microbial features detected by innate receptors (bacterial DNA, viral RNA, endotoxin, etc), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1, IFNs), ligation of CD40 on the dendritic cell surface by CD4OL, and substances released from cells undergoing stressful cell death. The dendritic cells can be derived by culturing bone marrow cells in vitro with cytokines, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM CSF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Non-professional antigen-presenting cells do not constitutively express the MHC class II proteins required for interaction with naive T cells; these are expressed only upon stimulation of the non-professional antigen-presenting cells by certain cytokines such as IFNγ. “Antigen presenting cells” can be loaded with MHC class I presented peptides by transducing the cells with nucleic acid, preferably mRNA, encoding a peptide or polypeptide comprising the peptide to be presented, e.g. a nucleic acid encoding the antigen.

In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition comprising a gene delivery vehicle that targets a dendritic or other antigen presenting cell may be administered to a patient, resulting in transfection that occurs in vivo. As used herein, a “nucleic acid” is a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA), more preferably RNA, most preferably in vitro transcribed RNA (IVT RNA) or synthetic RNA. Nucleic acids include according to the disclosure genomic DNA, cDNA, mRNA, recombinantly produced and chemically synthesized molecules. According to the disclosure, a nucleic acid may be present as a single-stranded or double-stranded and linear or covalently circularly closed molecule. A nucleic acid can, according to the disclosure, be isolated. The term “isolated nucleic acid” means, according to the disclosure, that the nucleic acid (i) was amplified in vitro, for example via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), (ii) was produced recombinantly by cloning, (iii) was purified, for example, by cleavage and separation by gel electrophoresis, or (iv) was synthesized, for example, by chemical synthesis. A nucleic can be employed for introduction into, i.e. transfection of cells, in particular, in the form of RNA which can be prepared by in vitro transcription from a DNA template. The RNA can moreover be modified before application by stabilizing sequences, capping, and polyadenylation.

As used herein, the term “RNA” relates to a molecule which comprises ribonucleotide residues and preferably being entirely or substantially composed of ribonucleotide residues. “Ribonucleotide” relates to a nucleotide with a hydroxyl group at the 2′-position of a B-D-ribofuranosyl group. The term “RNA” comprises double-stranded RNA, single-stranded RNA, isolated RNA such as partially or completely purified RNA, essentially pure RNA, synthetic RNA, and recombinantly generated RNA such as modified RNA which differs from naturally occurring RNA by addition, deletion, substitution and/or alteration of one or more nucleotides. Such alterations can include addition of non-nucleotide material, such as to the end (s) of a RNA or internally, for example at one or more nucleotides of the RNA. Nucleotides in RNA molecules can also comprise non-standard nucleotides, such as non-naturally occurring nucleotides or chemically synthesized nucleotides or deoxynucleotides. These altered RNAs can be referred to as analogs or analogs of naturally-occurring RNA.

As used herein, the term “RNA” includes and preferably relates to “mRNA”. The term “mRNA” means “messenger-RNA” and relates to a “transcript” which is generated by using a DNA template and encodes a peptide or polypeptide. Typically, an mRNA comprises a 5′-UTR, a protein coding region, and a 3′-UTR. mRNA only possesses limited half-life in cells and in vitro. In the context of the present disclosure, mRNA may be generated by in vitro transcription from a DNA template. The term “modification” in the context of the RNA used in the present disclosure includes any modification of an RNA which is not naturally present in said RNA. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the RNA used according to the invention does not have uncapped 5′-triphosphates. Removal of such uncapped 5′-triphosphates can be achieved by treating RNA with a phosphatase. The RNA according to the disclosure may have modified ribonucleotides in order to increase its stability and/or decrease cytotoxicity. For example, in one embodiment, in the RNA used according to the disclosure 5-methylcytidine is substituted partially or completely, preferably completely, for cytidine. Alternatively or additionally, in one embodiment, in the RNA used according to the disclosure pseudouridine is substituted partially or completely, preferably completely, for uridine.

In one embodiment, the term “modification” relates to providing an RNA with a 5-cap or 5′-cap analog. The term “5-cap” refers to a cap structure found on the 5′-end of an mRNA molecule and generally consists of a guanosine nucleotide connected to the mRNA via an unusual 5′ to 5 triphosphate linkage. In one embodiment, this guanosine is methylated at the 7-position. The term “conventional 5′-cap” refers to a naturally occurring RNA 5′-cap, preferably to the 7-methylguanosine cap (m′G). as used herein, the term “5′-cap” includes a 5′-cap analog that resembles the RNA cap structure and is modified to possess the ability to stabilize RNA and/or enhance translation of RNA if attached thereto, preferably in vivo and/or in a cell.

According to the disclosure, the stability and translation efficiency of RNA may be modified as required. For example, RNA may be stabilized and its translation increased by one or more modifications having a stabilizing effects and/or increasing translation efficiency of RNA. Such modifications are described, for example, in PCT/EP2006/009448 incorporated herein by reference. In order to increase expression of the RNA used according to the present disclosure, it may be modified within the coding region, i.e. the sequence encoding the expressed peptide or protein, preferably without altering the sequence of the expressed peptide or protein, so as to increase the GC content to increase mRNA stability and to perform a codon optimization and, thus, enhance translation in cells.

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of preventing a bacterial or viral infection, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the composition provided herein to elicit an immune response.

Aspects of the invention provide methods of vaccinating a subject comprising administering to the subject a single dosage of the compositions described herein comprising a nucleic acid (e.g. mRNA) encoding an polypeptide in an effective amount to vaccinate the subject. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is formulated within a cationic lipidic nanoparticle. In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle composition is administered as a single injection.

Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and COVID-19 represent significant challenges to human health. Mycobacteria, for example, is a genus of bacteria responsible for tuberculosis (TB). According to the World Health Organization, worldwide, TB is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. Despite current best efforts, there have been significant challenges in the development of effective vaccines for the prevention of many infectious diseases. New efforts in the identification of individual or combinations of antigenic peptides has helped improved the efficiency of vaccines. Nonetheless, significant opportunities remain in the engineering of adjuvants to help efficiently deliver and present these antigenic sequences to professional antigen presenting cells, like dendritic cells. mRNA coding for antigenic peptides or proteins combined with ionizable cationic lipid nanoparticles represent a particularly promising strategy in the development of a vaccine.

In some embodiments, the bacterial infection is Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

In some embodiments, the viral infection is a coronavirus. In some embodiments, the coronavirus is SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2

In some embodiments, the viral infection is HIV/AIDS.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle is administered parenterally.

In general, administration to a patient by intradermal injection is possible. However, injection may also be carried out intranodally into a lymph node (Maloy et al. (2001), Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98:3299-3033). The resulting cells present the complex of interest and are recognized by autologous cytotoxic T lymphocytes which then propagate.

In some embodiments, the compositions is administered by inhalation. In some embodiments, the composition is formulated as nasal spray, and/or aerosol

Actual dosage levels of the active agents in the pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein may be varied so as to obtain an amount of the active agent which is effective to achieve the desired therapeutic response for a particular patient, composition, and mode of administration, without being toxic to the patient.

“Parenteral” as used herein in the context of administration means modes of administration other than enteral and topical administration, usually by injection, and includes, without limitation, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, intracapsular, intraorbital, intracardiac, intradermal, intraperitoneal, transtracheal, subcutaneous, subcuticular, intraarticular, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal, epidural and intrasternal injection and infusion.

The phrases “parenteral administration” and “administered parenterally” as used herein refer to modes of administration other than enteral (i.e., via the digestive tract) and topical administration, usually by injection or infusion, and includes, without limitation, intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, intracapsular, intraorbital, intracardiac, intradermal, intraperitoneal, transtracheal, subcutaneous, subcuticular, intraarticular, inhalation, subcapsular, subarachnoid, respiratory mucosal, intraspinal, epidural and intrasternal injection and infusion. Intravenous injection and infusion are often (but not exclusively) used for liposomal drug administration.

Dosage regimens can be adjusted to provide the optimum desired response (e.g., a therapeutic response). For example, one or more doses may be administered over time or the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated by the exigencies of the therapeutic situation.

In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 5 mg/kg of nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 5 mg/kg of mRNA. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 3 mg/kg of nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 3 mg/kg of mRNA. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 1 mg/kg of nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 1 mg/kg of mRNA. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 0.5 mg/kg of nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 0.5 mg/kg of mRNA. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 1 mg/kg of mRNA. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 0.1 mg/kg of nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 0.05 mg/kg of mRNA. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 0.1 mg/kg of nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the dose comprises between 0.01 to 0.05 mg/kg of mRNA.

The dosage of the compounds and/or of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts or the LNPs comprising the compounds and/or of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts may vary within wide limits and should naturally be adjusted, in each particular case, to the individual conditions and to the pathogenic agent to be controlled.

Additional Embodiments

In some embodiments, the composition further comprises a targeting ligand, wherein the targeting ligand is oriented to the outside of the nanoparticle. In some embodiments, the targeting ligand is an antibody.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticles are in an aqueous medium.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is mRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is siRNA. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is DNA.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle comprises a membrane comprising phosphatidylcholine and a sterol. In some embodiments, the sterol is cholesterol. In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle comprises a membrane comprising phosphatidylcholine, ionizable cationic lipid (ICL). In some embodiments, the ICL have a structure as shown in Table 1 and Table 2. In some embodiments, the phosphatidylcholine is distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) or hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC). In some embodiments, the ionizable cationic lipid to cholesterol molar ratios is from about 65:35 to 40:60. In some embodiments, the ICL to cholesterol molar ratio is from about 60:40 to about 45:55.

In some embodiments, the phosphatidylcholine to cholesterol molar ratio is from about 1:5 to about 1:2.

In some embodiments, the membrane further comprises a polymer-conjugated lipid.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle comprises ICL, DSPC, cholesterol and polymer-conjugated lipid in a about 49.5:10.3:39.6:2.5 molar ratio.

In some embodiments, the polymer-conjugated lipid is PEG(2000)-dimyristoylglycerol (PEG-DMG) or PEG(Mol. weight 2,000)-dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-DMPE).

In some embodiments the percentage of oxidative degradation products for the ionizable lipid is less than 50% of that for a DLin-KC2-DMA or DLin-MC3-DMA control formulation.

In some embodiments, the composition is a liquid pharmaceutical formulation for parenteral administration.

In some embodiments, the composition is a liquid pharmaceutical formulation for subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intradermal administration.

In some embodiments, the composition is in the form of a lyophilized powder, that is subsequently reconstituted with aqueous medium prior to administration.

Other aspects of the disclosure relate to a method of preventing a bacterial or viral infection, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the composition provided herein to elicit an immune response. Some embodiments provide methods of vaccinating a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering the composition comprising a nucleic acid encoding an antigenic protein.

In some embodiments, the composition is administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intradermally.

In some embodiments, the bacterial infection is Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In some embodiments, the bacterial infection is a form of nontuberculosis Mycobacterium.

In some embodiments, the viral infection is a coronavirus. In some embodiments, the coronavirus is SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2

In some embodiments, the viral infection is HIV/AIDs.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle is administered parenterally.

In some embodiments, the lipidic nanoparticle composition is administered as part of a single injection.

EXAMPLES

While this disclosure has been described in relation to certain embodiments, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this disclosure includes additional embodiments, and that some of the details described herein may be varied considerably without departing from this disclosure. This disclosure includes such additional embodiments, modifications and equivalents. In particular, this disclosure includes any combination of the features, terms, or elements of the various illustrative components and examples.

Example 1A: Synthesis of Ionizable Lipids Scheme 1 Synthesis of Acid Intermediates for AKG-UO-1 to AKG-UO-3 (FIG. 7)

The acid intermediates (6Z,12Z)-6,12-octadecadienoic acid and (6Z,12Z)-6,12-hexadecadienoic acid were prepared by a general synthesis, shown in Scheme 1, involving i) an initial Witting reaction of triphenyl phosphonium ylide, prepared from 5-bromo pentanol, and the corresponding aldehyde, ii) conversion of the terminal alcohol to bromide by mesylation and substitution, iii) repeating the sequence of ylide synthesis and Witting reaction, and finally iv) periodic acid oxidation of the terminal alcohol. The resulting acid intermediates were utilized in the synthesis of AKG-UO-1 to AKG-UO-4, vide infra.

The acid intermediate (9Z,15Z)-9,15-octadecadienoic acid used in the synthesis of AKG-UO-5 was prepared by a general synthesis shown in Scheme 2, involving i) alkylation of silyl protected 10-hydroxy-1-decyne with (5Z)-1-bromo-5-octene, ii) catalytic hydrogenation of the alkyne to a cis-alkene, iii) removal of silyl protection on the alcohol, and finally iv) oxidation of the terminal alcohol to the desired acid.

Scheme 3 Synthesis of Acid Intermediates for AKG-BDG-01 and AKG-BDG-02 (FIG. 8)

Synthesis of two disulfide acid intermediates used in the synthesis of AKG-BDG-1 and AKG-BDG-2 is shown in Scheme 3. A general synthesis of acid intermediate for AKG-BDG-1 involves i) synthesis of 4-mercapto butyric acid from 4-bromo butyric acid, ii) reaction of 4-mercapto butyric acid with DPS resulting in 4-(2-pyridinyldisulfanyl)butanoic acid iii) catalytic hydrogenation of 3-decyn-1-ol to a cis-alkene, iv) tosylation of the primary alcohol, v) displacement of the tosyl group using thiourea resulting in a terminal thiol, and finally vi) coupling of the terminal thiol with 4-(2-pyridinyldisulfanyl)butanoic acid prepared in step ii above, resulting in the disulfide containing acid intermediate. Following a similar synthetic sequence starting from 3-dodecyn-1-ol yielded the second acid intermediate used in the synthesis of AKG-BDG-2.

A general synthesis of lipids AKG-UO-1, AKG-UO-4, AKG-UO-5, AKG-BDG-1 and AKG-BDG-2 shown in Scheme 4 involves the following steps: i) tosylation of the primary alcohol of the commercially available chiral dioxolane ii) displacement of the tosyl group using dimethylamine resulting in a tertiary amine, iii) acid catalyzed deprotection of the diol, and finally iv) esterification of the diol with the corresponding acid intermediates synthesized according to Schemes 1-3. AKG-UO-2 is prepared following a similar synthetic sequence starting from a different dioxolane and a corresponding acid intermediate, as shown in Scheme 5 below.

Scheme 5 Synthesis of AKG-UO-2 (FIG. 9)

A general synthesis of trialkyl phosphate containing lipid AKG-UO-3 shown in Scheme 6 involves the following steps: i) reaction of primary alcohol of a commercially available chiral dioxolane with methyl dichlorophosphite resulting in the corresponding dialkyl chlorophosphite ii) displacement of the chloride in dialkyl chlorophosphite by treating it with 3-bromo propanol, resulting in the corresponding trialkyl phosphite iii) acid catalyzed deprotection of the diol iv) esterification of the diol with the corresponding acid intermediate synthesized according to Scheme 1, and finally v) displacement of the bromide group using dimethylamine resulting in a tertiary amine.

Scheme 6 Synthesis of AKG-UO-3 (FIG. 10)

Alternatively, acid intermediates having two methylene groups between double bond positions in the hydrocarbon chain are synthesized as described in Caballeira et al., Chem. Phys. Lipids, vol. 100, p. 33-40, 1999, or as described by D′yakonov et al. (D′yakonov et al., Med. Chem. Res., 2016, vol. 25, p. 30-39; D′yakonov et al., Chem. Commun. 2013, vol. 49, p 8401-8403; D′yakonov et al., 2020, Phytochem. Rev.).

Example 1B: Synthesis of Ionizable Lipids

(S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,12-dienoate) (AKG-UO-1, O-11956)

(S)-4-(diethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,12-dienoate) (AKG-UO-1A, O-11955)

(S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(hexadeca-6,12-dienoate, AKG-UO-4, O-12401)

(S)-4-(diethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(hexadeca-6,12-dienoate, AKG-UO-4A, O-12402)

(S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,11Z,11′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,11-dienoate)(AKG-UO-1a)

FIG. 11A shows Scheme 7; FIG. 11B shows Scheme 8 and FIG. 11C shows Scheme 9.

Experimental Procedure Synthesis of 2-((5-bromopentyl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 2

To a solution of 5-bromo-1-pentanol 1 (3.6 g, 21.6 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL) and pyridinium p-toluene sulfonate (40 mg, 0.16 mmol) at 0° C. was added 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (6.54 mL, 71.8 mmol). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for one hour then quenched with water. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-((5-bromopentyl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 2 (4.5 g, 83%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm 4.55-4.54 (d, J=4.3 Hz, 1H), 3.92-3.72 (m, 2H), 3.42-3.38 (m, 3H), 1.88-1.55 (m, 3H), 1.52-1.50 (m, 10H).

Synthesis of 2-(trideca-6,12-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 4

To a solution of 1,7-Octadiyne 3 (6 mL, 45.4 mmol) and hexamethylphosphoramide (16 mL, 90.8 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (100 mL) at −78° C. was added [2.5 M n-butyllithium in n-hexane] (18 mL, 45.4 mmol) dropwise. Upon completion of addition, the solution was stirred at −78° C. for one hour then warmed to −20° C. for an additional hour. The resulting solution was cooled once again to −78° C. whereupon a solution of 2-((5-bromopentyl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 2 (5.67 g, 22.7 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was added. The resulting solution was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 12 hours. After 12 hours, the reaction was cooled to 0° C. and quenched with water (100 mL). The reaction mixture was then concentrated under vacuum to remove tetrahydrofuran and then diluted with n-hexane. The organics were washed with water and brine (2×100 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil weighing 9 g. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-(trideca-6,12-diyn-1-yloxy) tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 4 (4.5 g, 72%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, d⁶DMSO): δ ppm 4.54 4.53 (m, 1H), 3.72-3.61 (m, 1H), 3.60-3.58 (m, 1H), 3.43-3.33 (m, 1H), 3.32-3.29 (m, 1H), 2.77-2.75 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 2.16-2.13 (m, 6H), 1.55-1.41 (m, 16H).

Representative Procedure for Alkylation of Alkynes Synthesis of 2-(hexadeca-6,12-diyn-1-yloxy) tetrahydro-2H-pyran 7

To a solution of 2-(trideca-6,12-diyn-1-yloxy) tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 4 (7.14 g, 25.86 mmol) and hexamethylphosphoramide (18 mL, 103.4 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (100 mL) at −78° C. was added [2.5 M n-butyllithium in n-hexane] (41.3 mL, 103.4 mmol) dropwise. Upon completion of addition, the solution was stirred at −78° C. for one hour then warmed to −20° C. for an additional hour. The resulting solution was cooled once again to −78° C. whereupon a solution of 1-iodopropane 5 (9.9 mL, 103.4 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was added. The resulting solution was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 12 hours. After 12 hours, the reaction was cooled to 0° C. and quenched with water (100 mL). The reaction mixture was then concentrated under vacuum to remove tetrahydrofuran and then diluted with n-hexane. The organics were washed with water and brine (2×100 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil weighing 9 g. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-(hexadeca-6,12-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 7 (5.9 g, 72%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 4.57-4.55 (m, 1H), 3.86-3.74 (m, 1H), 3.73-3.71 (m, 1H), 3.50-3.39 (m, 1H), 3.37-3.36 (m, 1H), 2.16-2.11 (m, 8H), 1.59-1.56 (m, 2H), 1.55-1.47 (m, 16H), 0.98-0.93 (t, J=1.6 Hz, 3H).

2-(octadeca-6,12-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 8

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 4.57-4.55 (m, 1H), 3.85-3.74 (m, 1H), 3.73-3.70 (m, 1H), 3.50-3.38 (m, 1H), 3.36-3.35 (m, 1H), 2.23-2.12 (m, 8H), 1.61-1.54 (m, 2H), 1.53-1.48 (m, 16H), 1.47-1.46 (m, 4H), 0.90-0.85 (t, J=1.6 Hz, 3H).

Representative Procedure for Reduction of Alkenes to Alkenes Using “P-2 Ni” Synthesis of 2-(((6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 9

To a solution of Sodium borohydride (0.56 g, 14.8 mmol) in ethanol (80 mL) under hydrogen blanket at 0° C. was added Nickel (II) acetate tetrahydrate (3.22 g, 12.98 mmol). Upon completion of addition, the reaction was evacuated under vacuum and flushed with hydrogen. After 10 minutes of stirring, ethylenediamine (3.7 mL, 65.6 mmol), and a solution of 2-(hexadeca-6,12-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 7 (5.9 g, 18.55 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature under a hydrogen balloon for 4 hours. After 4 hours, the reaction mixture was evacuated of hydrogen and then flushed with nitrogen. The crude mixture was filtered over celite, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil weighing 4 g. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% diethyl ether in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-(((6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 9 (4.67 g, 78% yield) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.35-5.34 (m, 4H), 4.58-4.55 (m, 1H), 3.86-3.74 (m, 1H), 3.73-3.71 (m, 1H), 3.51-3.39 (m, 1H), 3.36-3.35 (m, 1H), 2.03-1.98 (m, 8H), 1.57-1.39 (m, 2H), 1.38-1.36 (m, 6H), 1.35-1.32 (m, 10H), 0.91-0.86 (t, J=1.6 Hz, 3H).

¹³C NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 129.98, 129.85, 98.93, 77.53, 77.10, 76.68, 67.72, 62.43, 30.86, 29.71, 29.70, 29.45, 29.46, 29.44, 27.20, 27.19, 26.01, 25.59, 22.98, 19.78, 13.91.

2-(((6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 10

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.39-5.29 (m, 4H), 4.58-4.55 (m, 1H), 3.86-3.76 (m, 1H), 3.74-3.68 (m, 1H), 3.51-3.41 (m, 1H), 3.39-3.36 (m, 1H), 2.14-1.97 (m, 8H), 1.56-1.38 (m, 2H), 1.37-1.35 (m, 6H), 1.34-1.28 (m, 14H), 0.93-0.85 (t, J=1.6 Hz, 3H).

¹³C NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 130.13, 129.97, 129.84, 129.71, 98.93, 77.53, 77.10, 76.68, 67.71, 62.42, 31.62, 30.86, 29.72, 29.71, 29.47, 29.46, 27.27, 27.18, 26.01, 25.59, 22.67, 19.78, 14.18.

Representative Procedure for Deprotection of Tetrahydropyranyl Ether (THP) Synthesis of (6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dien-1-ol 11

To a solution of 2-(((6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 9 (4.67 g, 14.5 mmol) in methanol (20 mL) was added p-Toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (300 mg, 1.58 mmol) at room temperature. The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours then quenched with water. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 mL). The combined organics were washed with water then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil weighing 4 g. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% diethyl ether in n-hexane as eluant to give (6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dien-1-ol, 11 (2.5 g, 72%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.34-5.33 (m, 4H), 3.65-3.61 (m, 2H), 2.02-2.00 (m, 8H), 1.36-1.34 (m, 2H), 1.34-1.25 (m, 10H), 0.89-0.86 (t, J=0.82 Hz, 3H).

(6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dien-1-ol 12

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.33 (m, 4H), 3.65-3.61 (m, 2H), 2.02-2.01 (m, 8H), 1.36-1.35 (m, 2H), 1.34-1.25 (m, 14H), 0.88-0.85 (t, J=0.76 Hz, 3H).

Representative Procedure for Oxidation of Alcohol to Carboxylic Acid Using Jones Reagent Synthesis of (6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dienoic acid 13

A mixture of (6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dien-1-ol, 11 (2.5 g, 10.5 mmol) and Jones Reagent [2M in sulfuric acid], (10.5 mL, 21 mmol) in acetone (20 mL) at 0° C. was stirred for 2 hours. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 mL). The combined organics were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 20% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give (6Z,12Z)-hexadeca-6,12-dienoic acid, 13 (1.7 g, 68%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.35-5.33 (m, 4H), 2.37-2.32 (t, 2H), 2.06-1.98 (m, 8H), 1.64-1.39 (m, 2H), 1.37-1.32 (m, 8H), 0.91-0.87 (t, J=0.91 Hz, 3H).

(6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dienoic acid 14

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.32 (m, 4H), 2.35-2.33 (t, 2H), 2.06-2.01 (m, 8H), 1.64-1.42 (m, 2H), 1.34-1.28 (m, 12H), 0.90-0.85 (t, 3H).

Synthesis of (S)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)ethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate 16

To a mixture of (S)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)ethan-1-ol 15 (25 g, 171.1 mmol) in pyridine (30 mL) at 0° C. was added p-Toluenesulfonylchloride (35.8 g, 188.2 mmol) and DMAP (140 mg, 1.14 mmol) and the reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (500 mL), washed with sat. NH₄Cl, water and Brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The solvent was evaporated, and the crude residue used for the next step without purification. (43.8 g, 85%).

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm 7.77 (d, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 7.34 (d, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 4.15-4.01 (m, 3H), 3.65-3.47 (m, 2H), 2.43 (s, 3H), 1.82-1.62 (m, 2H), 1.32 (s, 3H), 1.27 (s, 3H).

Representative Procedure for Di-Alkylamine Substitution Synthesis of (S)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine 19

A mixture of (S)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)ethyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate 16 (10 g, 33.3 mmol) and dimethylamine solution 17 (166 mL, 333.3 mmol) (2M in THF) was stirred at room temperature for 2 days. The mixture was concentrated, and the crude residue was diluted with CH₂Cl₂ (500 mL), washed with sat. NaHCO₃, water and Brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The solvent was evaporated, and the crude residue was purified by flash chromatography (SiO₂: CH₂Cl₂=100% to 10% of MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ with 1% NH₄OH) and colorless oil product 19 was obtained (2.1 g, 37%).

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm 4.15-4.01 (m, 2H), 3.52 (dd, J=7.4, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 2.41-2.23 (m, 2H), 2.21 (s, 6H), 1.82-1.62 (m, 2H), 1.39 (s, 3H), 1.33 (s, 3H).

MS (APCI⁺): 174.1 (M+1)

(S)-2-(2,2-diethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine 20

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm 4.15-4.01 (m, 2H), 3.48 (dd, J=7.4, 7.4 Hz, 1H), 2.48-2.43 (m, 6H), 1.82-1.62 (m, 2H), 1.36 (s, 3H), 1.27 (s, 3H), 0.97 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 6H).

MS (APCI⁺): 202.2 (M+1)

Representative Procedure for Ketal Hydrolysis Synthesis of (S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diol hydrochloride salt 21

To a mixture of (S)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine 19 (2 g, 11.54 mmol) in MeOH (10 mL) was added 1N HCl aqueous solution (17 mL, 17.3 mmol) and the reaction was heated at 80° C. for 45 min. TLC (Rf=0.1, 10% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂ with 1% NH₄OH) showed the completion of reaction. After concentration of the reaction mixture, the crude residue was dissolved in water (5 mL) and lyophilized overnight. Sticky syrup product 21 was obtained (2.1 g, quant.) as HCl salt.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, D₂O): δ ppm 3.77-3.72 (m, 1H), 3.54-3.46 (m, 2H), 3.29-3.22 (m, 2H), 2.85 (s, 6H), 1.92-1.79 (m, 2H).

MS (APCI⁺): 134.1 (M+1)

(S)-4-(diethylamino)butane-1,2-diol hydrochloride salt 22

¹H NMR (300 MHz, D₂O): δ ppm 3.77-3.72 (m, 1H), 3.54-3.46 (m, 2H), 3.22-3.15 (m, 6H), 1.92-1.74 (m, 2H), 1.24 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 6H).

MS (APCI⁺): 162.1 (M+1)

Representative Procedure for di-esterification Synthesis of (S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,12-dienoate) AKG-UO-1 (O-11956)

Oxalyl chloride (0.33 mL, 3.9 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of (6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dienoic acid, 14 (0.36 g, 1.3 mmol) in dichloromethane/DMF (15mLs, 25 μL) at 0° C. and allowed reaction to warm to room temperature and stir for one hour. After one hour, the reaction was concentrated under vacuum to dryness. The residue was re-dissolved in dichloromethane (10 mL) and added to a mixture of N,N-Diisopropylethylamine (2.3 mL, 10 mmol), 4-Dimethylaminopyridine (317 mg, 2.6 mmol), and (S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diol hydrochloride, 21 (101 mg, 0.6 mmol). The resulting solution was allowed to stir for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the reaction was cooled to OC and quenched with water (10 mL). The reaction mixture was extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 mL) and the organics were washed with water and brine (2×100 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 2% methanol in dichloromethane as eluant to give (S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,12-dienoate), AKG-UO-1, (0.12 g, 30%) as a yellow oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.40-5.29 (m, 8H), 5.14-5.12 (m, 1H), 4.25 (dd, J=11.8, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (dd, J=12.1, 6.3 Hz, 1H), 2.32-2.26 (m, 6H), 2.20 (s, 6H), 2.06-1.99 (m, 16H), 1.78-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.65-1.58 (m, 4H), 1.42-1.25 (m, 24H), 0.90-0.85 (m, 6H).

MS (APCI⁺): 658.5 (M+1)

(S)-4-(diethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,12-dienoate) AKG-UO-1A (O-11955)

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.37-5.29 (m, 8H), 5.12-5.10 (m, 1H), 4.25 (dd, J=12.1, 3.6 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (dd, J=11.8, 6.3 Hz, 1H), 2.52-2.42 (m, 6H), 2.29 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 4H)), 2.06-1.99 (m, 16H), 1.78-1.70 (m, 2H), 1.64-1.59 (m, 4H), 1.41-1.19 (m, 24H), 0.99 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 6H), 0.96-0.87 (m, 6H).

MS (APCI⁺): 686.6 (M+1)

(S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl(6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(hexadeca-6,12-dienoate) AKG-UO-4 (O-12401)

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.39-5.29 (m, 8H), 5.13-5.12 (m, 1H), 4.24 (dd, J=11.8, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (dd, J=11.8, 6.3 Hz, 1H), 2.32-2.27 (m, 6H), 2.19 (s, 6H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 16H), 1.75-1.72 (m, 2H), 1.65-1.58 (m, 4H), 1.36-1.31 (m, 16H), 0.91-0.86 (m, 6H).

MS (APCI⁺): 602.5 (M+1)

Synthesis of (S)-4-(diethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,12Z,12′Z)-bis(hexadeca-6,12-dienoate) AKG-UO-4A (O-12402)

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.40-5.29 (m, 8H), 5.12-5.11 (m, 1H), 4.25 (dd, J=11.8, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 4.05 (dd, J=11.8, 6.3 Hz, 1H), 2.54-2.43 (m, 6H), 2.29 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 4H), 2.11-1.96 (m, 16H), 1.74-1.65 (m, 2H), 1.65-1.59 (m, 4H), 1.39-1.31 (m, 16H), 0.99 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 6H), 0.91-0.89 (m, 6H).

MS (APCI⁺): 630.5 (M+1)

Synthesis of (8)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,11Z,11′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,11-dienoate) (AKG-UO-1a) (FIG. 12) Experimental Procedure Synthesis of 2-((5-bromopentyl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 2

To a solution of 5-bromo-1-pentanol 1 (3.6 g, 21.6 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 mL) and pyridinium p-toluene sulfonate (40 mg, 0.16 mmol) at 0° C. was added 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran (6.54 mL, 71.8 mmol). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for one hour then quenched with water. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-((5-bromopentyl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 2 (4.5 g, 83%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm 4.55-4.54 (d, J=4.3 Hz, 1H), 3.92-3.72 (m, 2H), 3.42-3.38 (m, 3H), 1.88-1.55 (m, 3H), 1.52-1.50 (m, 10H).

Synthesis of 2-(dodeca-6,11-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 4a

To a solution of 1,6-heptadiyne 3a (5 g, 54.3 mmol) and hexamethylphosphoramide (19 mL, 108 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (100 mL) at −78° C. was added [2.5 M n-butyllithium in n-hexane] (21.7 mL, 54.3 mmol) dropwise. Upon completion of addition, the solution was stirred at −78° C. for one hour then warmed to −20° C. for an additional hour. The resulting solution was cooled once again to −78° C. whereupon a solution of 2-((5-bromopentyl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 2 (6.8 g, 27.1 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (10 mL) was added. The resulting solution was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 12 hours. After 12 hours, the reaction was cooled to 0° C. and quenched with water (100 mL). The reaction mixture was then concentrated under vacuum to remove tetrahydrofuran and then diluted with n-hexane. The organics were washed with water and brine (2×100 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-(dodeca-6,11-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 4a (4.1 g, 58%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm 4.57-4.56 (m, 1H), 3.96-3.82 (m, 1H), 3.77-3.69 (m, 1H), 3.50-3.41 (m, 1H), 3.39-3.34 (m, 1H), 2.29-2.25 (m, 4H), 2.15-2.12 (m, 2H), 1.95-1.94 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 1H), 1.73-1.43 (m, 14H).

Synthesis of 2-(octadeca-6,11-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 6a

To a solution of 2-(dodeca-6,11-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 4a (4.1 g, 15.64 mmol) and hexamethylphosphoramide (11 mL, 62.6 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (100 mL) at −78° C. was added [2.5 M n-butyllithium in n-hexane] (12.5 mL, 31.3 mmol) dropwise. Upon completion of addition, the solution was stirred at −78° C. for one hour then warmed to −20° C. for an additional hour. The resulting solution was cooled once again to −78° C. whereupon a solution of 1-iodohexane 5a (9.5 mL, 62.6 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was added. The resulting solution was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirred for 12 hours. After 12 hours, the reaction was cooled to 0° C. and quenched with water (100 mL). The reaction mixture was then concentrated under vacuum to remove tetrahydrofuran and then diluted with n-hexane. The organics were washed with water and brine (2×100 mL). The organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-(octadeca-6,11-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 6a (3.1 g, 57%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 4.58-4.55 (m, 1H), 3.86-3.82 (m, 1H), 3.77-3.69 (m, 1H), 3.51-3.47 (m, 1H), 3.41-3.34 (m, 1H), 2.26-2.21 (m, 6H), 2.14-2.12 (m, 6H), 1.66-1.26 (m, 18H), 0.93-0.85 (t, J=6.5 Hz, 3H).

Synthesis of 2-(((6Z,11Z)-octadeca-6,11-dien-1-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran 7a

To a solution of Sodium borohydride (0.27 g, 14.8 mmol) in ethanol (50 mL) under hydrogen blanket at 0° C. was added Nickel (II) acetate tetrahydrate (1.55 g, 6.25 mmol). Upon completion of addition, the reaction was evacuated under vacuum and flushed with hydrogen. After 10 minutes of stirring, ethylenediamine (1.8 mL, 26.8 mmol), and a solution of 2-(octadeca-6,11-diyn-1-yloxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 6a (3.1 g, 8.93 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature under a hydrogen balloon for 4 hours. After 4 hours, the reaction mixture was evacuated of hydrogen and then flushed with nitrogen. The crude mixture was filtered over celite, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil weighing 4 g. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% diethyl ether in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-(((6Z,11Z)-octadeca-6,11-dien-1-yl)oxy)tetrahydro-2H-pyran, 7a (2.86 g, 92% yield) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.4-5.34 (m, 4H), 4.58-4.55 (m, 1H), 3.86-3.82 (m, 1H), 3.74-3.68 (m, 1H), 3.51-3.49 (m, 1H), 3.41-3.36 (m, 1H), 2.06-1.99 (m, 6H), 1.83-1.67 (m, 2H), 1.59-1.51 (m, 6H), 1.48-1.32 (m, 16H), 0.92-0.85 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H).

Synthesis of (6Z,11Z)-octadeca-6,11-dien-1-ol 8a

Procedure previously described.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.37-5.33 (m, 4H), 3.65-3.61 (m, 1H), 2.06-1.99 (m, 6H), 1.56-1.41 (m, 4H), 1.38-1.27 (m, 14H), 0.88-0.85 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H).

Synthesis of (6Z,11Z)-octadeca-6,11-dienoic acid 9a

Procedure previously described.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.38-5.33 (m, 4H), 2.37-2.33 (t, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 2.06-1.99 (m, 6H), 1.67-1.59 (m, 2H), 1.41-1.25 (m, 14H), 0.89-0.85 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H).

Synthesis of (S)-4-(dimethylamino)butane-1,2-diyl (6Z,6′Z,11Z,11′Z)-bis(octadeca-6,11-dienoate) (AKG-UO-1a)

Procedure previously described.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.39-5.29 (m, 8H), 5.14-5.12 (m, 1H), 4.25 (dd, J=11.8, 3.3 Hz, 1H), 4.06 (dd, J=11.8, 6.3 Hz, 1H), 2.32-2.28 (m, 6H), 2.20 (s, 6H), 2.03-2.01 (m, 16H), 1.74-1.64 (m, 2H), 1.62-1.60 (m, 6H), 1.38-1.27 (m, 22H), 0.89-0.85 (m, 6H).

MS (APCI⁺): 658.5 (M+1)

Example 1C. Synthesis of KC-01 Series of Ionizable Lipids Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine (AKG-KC2-01, 0-12095) 3-((S)-2,2-di((6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine (AKG-KC3-01, 0-12096) (FIG. 13) Synthesis of (6Z,12Z)-1-bromooctadeca-6,12-diene, 2

To a solution of (6Z,12Z)-octadeca-6,12-dien-1-ol, 1 (3.6 g, 13.7 mmol) in dichloromethane (50 mL) at 0° C. was added methane sulfonyl chloride (1.26 mL, 16.4 mmol) and triethylamine (3.6 mL, 20.5 mmol). The resulting solution was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 2 hours. The mixture was quenched with water and extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine then dried over magnesium sulfate then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The resulting oil was dissolved in diethyl ether (50 mL), added to a stirring slurry of magnesium bromide ethyl etherate (7 g, 27.4 mmol) in diethyl ether (50 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine then dried over magnesium sulfate then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-10% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give (6Z,12Z)-1-bromooctadeca-6,12-diene, 3 (2.9 g, 8.89 mmol, 65%) as a yellow oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.33 (m, 4H), 3.42-3.37 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.04-1.97 (m, 8H), 1.83-1.83 (m, 2H), 1.37-1.28 (m, 14H), 0.90-0.86 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H).

Synthesis of (6Z,12Z,25Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,12,25,31-tetraen-19-ol, 3

A solution of (6Z,12Z)-1-bromooctadeca-6,12-diene, 2 (2 g, 6.08 mmol) in ether (10 mL) was added to a mixture of magnesium turnings (162 mg, 6.69 mmol) and iodine in ether (2 mL) under argon at room temperature. The mixture stirred at room temperature for 90 minutes (magnesium turnings consumed) whereupon ethyl formate (0.24 mL, 3.04 mmol) was added. After stirring for one hour at room temperature, the reaction was quenched with 1N HCl solution. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×100 mL) and the combined organics washed with water then brine. The organics were dried under magnesium sulfate, filtered, and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The resulting oil was dissolved in ethanol (10 mL) and added to a solution of potassium hydroxide (260 mg) in water (3 mL). After stirring for 12 hours, the mixture pH was adjusted 4 with 2N HCl. The aqueous solution was extracted with dichloromethane (2×) and combined. The organics were washed with brine then dried under magnesium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. Purification of the crude oil on silica using 10-30% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give (6Z,12Z,25Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,12,25,31-tetraen-19-ol, 3 (0.29 g, 0.55 mmol, 18%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.32 (m, 8H), 3.57 (bs, 1H), 3.33-3.32, (m, 2H), 2.13-1.97 (m, 16H), 1.36-1.29 (m, 34H), 0.90-0.86 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of (6Z,12Z,25Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,12,25,31-tetraen-19-one, 4

To a mixture of (6Z,12Z,25Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,12,25,31-tetraen-19-ol, 3 (0.29 g, 0.55 mmol) and sodium carbonate (3 mg, 0.03 mmol) in dichloromethane was added pyridinium chlorochromate (236 mg, 1.1 mmol) at 0° C. The mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for one hour. After one hour, silica gel (1 g) was added to reaction and the mixture filtered. The filtrate was concentrated, and the resulted oil purified on silica using 10-20% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give (6Z,12Z,25Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,12,25,31-tetraen-19-one, 4 (0.12 g, 0.23 mmol, 42%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.32 (m, 8H), 3.36-3.32, (m, 1H), 2.40-2.35 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H), 2.14-2.00 (m, 16H), 1.58-1.54 (m, 4H), 1.34-1.29 (m, 28H), 0.90-0.86 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl) ethan-1-ol, 7

A mixture of (6Z,12Z,25Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,12,25,31-tetraen-19-one, 4 (0.12 g, 0.23 mmol), (45)-(+)-4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane 5 (0.20 g, 1.38 mmol), and pyridinium p-toluene sulfonate (9 mg) in toluene (10 mL) was heated at reflux under nitrogen positive pressure. After 12 hours, the mixture was concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The resulting crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 20-40% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-((S)-2,2-di((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl) ethan-1-ol, 7 (0.11 g, 0.17 mmol, 77%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.32 (m, 8H), 4.25-4.20 (m, 1H), 4.10-4.06 (m, 1H), 3.82-3.77 (m, 1H), 3.54-3.49 (m, 1H), 2.23-2.19 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H), 2.14-2.00 (m, 16H), 1.84-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.62-1.51 (m, 6H), 1.34-1.29 (m, 28H), 0.90-0.86 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of 3-((S)-2,2-di((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)propan-1-ol, 8

A mixture of (6Z,12Z,25Z,31Z)-heptatriaconta-6,12,25,31-tetraen-19-one, 4 (0.50 g, 0.95 mmol), (S)-(3)-(2,2-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)propanol 6 (0.76 g, 4.75 mmol), and pyridinium p-toluene sulfonate (36 mg) in toluene (10 mL) was heated at reflux under nitrogen positive pressure. After 12 hours, the mixture was concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The resulting crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 20-40% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to 3-((S)-2,2-di((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)propan-1-ol, 8 (0.48 g, 0.76 mmol, 80%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.34-5.29 (m, 8H), 4.06-4.02 (m, 2H), 3.67-3.47 (m, 2H), 3.45-3.43 (m, 1H), 2.12-2.01 (m, 16H), 1.65-1.62 (m, 8H), 1.34-1.29 (m, 32H), 0.89-0.85 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine, (AKG-KC2-01, O-12095)

To a solution of 2-((S)-2,2-di((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl) ethan-1-ol, 7 (0.49 g, 0.79 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 mL) at 0° C. was added methanesulfonyl chloride (73 μL, 0.95 mmol) and triethylamine (0.26 mL, 1.2 mmol). The solution was warmed to room temperature and stirred for an addition hour. The reaction was quenched with water and extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 mL). The organics were washed with brine then dried over magnesium sulfate and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. A solution of 2M dimethylamine (10 mL) was added to the resulting crude oil and allowed to stir for 24 hours. The mixture was then quenched with water and extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with brine then dried over magnesium sulfate then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under vacuum to give a crude oil. The crude oil was purified by chromatography on silica using 5-100% ethyl acetate in n-hexane as eluant to give 2-((S)-2,2-di((9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dien-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine, (AKG-KC2-01, O-12095), (206 mg, 0.32 mmol, 41%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.35-5.32 (m, 8H), 4.08-4.03 (m, 2H), 3.47 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.36-2.27 (m, 2H), 2.21 (s, 6H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 16H), 1.88-1.77 (m, 2H), 1.68-1.53 (m, 6H), 1.42-1.19 (m, 34H), 0.96-0.86 (t, J=3.7 Hz, 6H).

MS(APCI) for C₄₃H₇₉NO₂: 642.6

Synthesis of 3-((S)-2,2-di((6Z, 12Z)-octadeca-6-12-dien-4-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine, AKG-KC3-01, O-12096)

Procedure previously described.

3-((S)-2,2-di((6Z, 12Z)-octadeca-6-12-dien-4-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine, (AKG-KC3-01, 0-12096), (255 mg, 0.39 mmol, 51%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.39-5.32 (m, 8H), 4.06-4.02 (m, 2H), 3.48-3.44 (m, 1H), 2.35-2.30 (m, 2H), 2.25 (s, 6H), 2.01-1.98 (m, 16H), 1.70-1.51 (m, 12H), 1.35-1.25 (m, 32H), 0.90-0.85 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

MS(APCI) for C₄₄H₈₁NO₂: 656.6

Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan amine (AKG-KC2-OA, O-11880) 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-hexadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine (AKG-KC2-PA, O-11879) 3-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine (AKG-KC3-OA, O-11957) (FIG. 14)

Experimental Procedure (Refer to previously described synthesis of AKG-KC2-01)

Synthesis of (Z)-1-bromooctadec-9-ene 3

Procedure previously described.

(Z)-1-bromooctadec-9-ene, (6.4 g, 19.33 mmol) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.32 (m, 2H), 3.41 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 4H), 1.87-1.82 (m, 2H), 1.44-1.26 (m, 22H), 0.87 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H).

(Z)-16-bromohexadec-7-ene 4

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.32 (m, 2H), 3.42 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 4H), 1.87-1.82 (m, 2H), 1.44-1.26 (m, 18H), 0.89 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 3H).

Synthesis of (9Z,28Z)-heptatriaconta-9,28-dien-19-ol 5

Procedure previously described.

(9Z,28Z)-heptatriaconta-9,28-dien-19-ol (1.2 g, 2.25 mmol, 47%) as a solid.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.29 (m, 4H), 3.57 (bs, 1H), 2.01-1.97 (m, 8H), 1.42-1.26 (m, 53H), 0.89 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

(7Z,26Z)-tritriaconta-7,26-dien-17-ol 6

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.29 (m, 4H), 3.57 (bs, 1H), 2.01-1.97 (m, 8H), 1.42-1.26 (m, 45H), 0.89 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of (9Z,28Z)-heptatriaconta-9,28-dien-19-one 7

Procedure previously described.

(9Z,28Z)-heptatriaconta-9,28-dien-19-one (0.89 g, 1.67 mmol, 74%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.29 (m, 4H), 2.03-1.98 (m, 8H), 1.42-1.26 (m, 52H), 0.90-0.89 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

(7Z,26Z)-tritriaconta-7,26-dien-17-one 8

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.29 (m, 4H), 2.03-1.98 (m, 8H), 1.42-1.26 (m, 44H), 0.90-0.89 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl) ethan-1-ol 9

Procedure previously described.

2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl) ethan-1-ol (0.39 g, 0.63 mmol, 74%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.28 (m, 4H), 4.22-4.10 (m, 1H), 4.08-4.05 (m, 1H), 3.82-3.79 (m, 2H), 3.48 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.24-2.21 (m, 1H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 8H), 1.81-1.80 (m, 2H), 1.59-1.54 (m, 6H), 1.34-1.26 (m, 45H), 0.87 (t, J=6.3 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-hexadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)ethan-1-ol, 10

Procedure previously described.

2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-hexadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)ethan-1-ol (1.02 g, 1.65 mmol, 51%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.36-5.29 (m, 4H), 4.23-4.10 (m, 1H), 4.07-4.05 (m, 1H), 3.82-3.79 (m, 2H), 3.48 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 1H), 2.24-2.12 (m, 1H), 2.01-1.97 (m, 8H), 1.84-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.57-1.55 (m, 8H), 1.34-1.29 (m, 35H), 0.87 (t, J=6.3 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of 3-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)propan-1-ol, 11

Procedure previously described.

3-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl) propan-1-ol (0.41 g, 0.65 mmol, 76%) as a clear oil

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.39-5.32 (m, 4H), 4.06-4.03 (m, 2H), 3.71-3.67 (m, 2H), 3.47-3.46 (m, 1H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 10H), 1.66-1.59 (m, 4H), 1.56-1.54 (m, 6H), 1.34-1.26 (m, 44H), 0.87 (t, J=6.3 Hz, 6H).

Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan amine, (AKG-KC2-OA, O-11880)

Procedure previously described.

2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-hexadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine, (AKG-KC2-OA, O-11880), (200 mg, 0.31 mmol, 49%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.38-5.28 (m, 4H), 4.08-4.01 (m, 2H), 3.48 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.39-2.24 (m, 2H), 2.21 (s, 6H), 2.01-1.97 (m, 8H), 1.82-1.77 (m, 2H), 1.68-1.52 (m, 6H), 1.34-1.26 (m, 46H), 0.87 (t, J=6.3 Hz, 6H).

MS(APCI) for C₄₃H₈₃NO₂: 646.7

Synthesis of 2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-hexadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine, (AKG-KC2-PA, O-11879)

Procedure previously described.

2-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-hexadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine, (AKG-KC2-PA, O-11879), (195 mg, 0.33 mmol, 18%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.35-5.28 (m, 4H), 4.08-4.02 (m, 2H), 3.48 (t, J=6.6 Hz, 1H), 2.38-2.27 (m, 2H), 2.20 (s, 6H), 2.01-1.99 (m, 8H), 1.97-1.80 (m, 2H), 1.77-1.52 (m, 6H), 1.34-1.29 (m, 38H), 0.87 (t, J=6.3 Hz, 6H).

MS(APCI) for C₃₉H₇₅NO₂: 590.6

Synthesis of 3-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine, (AKG-KC3-OA, O-11957)

Procedure previously described.

3-((S)-2,2-di((Z)-octadec-9-en-1-yl)-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine, (AKG-KC3-OA, O-11957), (160 mg, 0.24 mmol, 37%) as a clear oil.

¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): 5.39-5.28 (m, 4H), 4.06-4.01 (m, 2H), 3.44 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.26 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 2.20 (s, 6H), 2.01-1.97 (m, 8H), 1.82-1.77 (m, 2H), 1.60-1.43 (m, 8H), 1.34-1.26 (m, 46H), 0.87 (t, J=6.3 Hz, 6H).

MS(APCI) for C₄₄H₈₅NO₂: 660.6

Example 2. Assay for In Vitro Cytotoxicity in Human Hepatocyte or Cancer Cells

LNPs can be tested in vitro over a series of 10 dilutions to determine IC50 in human hepatocyte/liver (HepG2; ATCC #HB8065) cells. As these formulations are generally expected to be nontoxic, a positive control of Lipofectamine™ 3000 (ThermoFisher #L3000015)-complexed mRNA (2 μl reagent/1 μg mRNA) is included in all studies. The mRNA used is CleanCap FLuc, EGFP, or MCherry reporter gene mRNA (5 moU; Trilink #L-7202, #L-7201, or #L-7203). Data is reported out as the full cell viability curve, as well as a calculation of the actual IC50 value for each compound.

Adherent cells are grown to ˜80% confluency. The cells are trypsinized by adding 0.25% trypsin-EDTA (Gibco #25200-072) and the cells subsequently spun down, and 5 ml of growth medium (MEM media; Corning #10010 CM) added to disperse the cells. The cell density is determined using a hemocytometer. Growth medium (MEM media containing 10% FBS; Corning #35015 CV) is added to the cells to adjust to an appropriate concentration of cells. Then, 200 μl of the cells (5,000 cells/well) is added to a 96-well clear flat-bottom plate (Costar #9804) and incubated in the plate at 37° C. in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ for 24 h.

Serial dilutions of LNP formulations using growth medium as solvent are prepared. These compounds are provided as sterile aqueous with a concentration of 1 mg/ml mRNA. For making dilutions, each LNP stock was warmed to room temperature. These were further diluted to 4× in the growth media to the highest mRNA concentration tested of 250 ug/ml.

LNPs are added to the wells at a series of 1:3 dilutions from the initial 250 μg/ml concentration for each LNP by aspirating out the old media and replacing it with 200 μl of the LNP containing media. The plates were incubated at 37° C. in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ for 72 h. At the end of the LNP incubation period, replace the media in each well with 100 μl of 1× PrestoBlue Cell Viability Reagent (ThermoFisher Cat #A13261). Incubate the plate at 37° C. in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ 30 min to 2 h. Take readings at 30, 60, and 120 min. Read fluorescence with 560 nm excitation and 590 nm emission using SpectraMax M5 plate reader (Molecular Devices). Correct background by subtracting the RFU of the control containing only the culture medium (background control well) from all sample readings. Calculate the percentage of cytotoxicity using the formula below:

% Cytotoxicity=[(RFU._(Medium)−RFU_(Treatment))/RFU._(Medium)]×100%

The IC50 was determined using GraphPad Prism using the following formula:

Y=100/(1+10{circumflex over ( )}((Log IC50−X)*Hill Slope)))

The cytotoxicity of Lipofectamine™ 3000 (ThermoFisher #L3000015)-complexed mRNA (2 μl reagent/1 μg mRNA) positive control can n some embodiments be 5-100-fold more toxic than compounds disclosed here. This shows that disclosed compounds are less toxic than commercial transfection reagents in an in vitro hepatocytotoxicity assay. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein form less toxic LNPs in vivo than commercially available transfection reagents.

Example 3. Determination of pKa of Ionizable Lipid

The pKa of an ionizable cationic lipid can be calculated several ways. For lipids this is sometimes difficult because membrane structure and neighboring lipids in the membrane can influence the dissociation properties of the amino group, potentially giving inaccurate values. An in-situ measurement is ideal, where the apparent pKa of the ionizable lipid is measured while the lipid is within its intended environment, in this case as part of an LNP (Jayaraman 2012, Sabins 2018).

For each LNP formulation, amino lipid pKa values are determined by measuring the fluorescence of 2-(p-toluidino)-6-napthalene sulfonic acid (TNS) during titration from pH 3 to 12. TNS is an anionic molecule that does not fluoresce in solution but increases fluorescence when associated with a positive lipid membrane, and this property has been used in the past to probe membrane surface charge. A master buffer stock is prepared (10 mM sodium phosphate, 10 mM sodium borate, 10 mM sodium citrate, 150 mM sodium chloride) which are used to prepare buffers at various pH values for determining apparent pKa. Using 1 M sodium hydroxide and 1 M hydrochloric acid, ˜20 unique buffers from the master buffer stock are prepared at different pH values between about 3 and 12. 300 mM 6-(p-Toluidino)-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid sodium salt (TNS reagent) solubilized in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is used as a stock. LNP are prepared and purified into the desired pH buffer with a final mRNA concentration of 0.04 mg/mL. Using a 96-well plate, preloaded with desired buffers, mRNA containing LNP are added to so that the final concentration of mRNA is 0.7 μg/mL. To each well, TNS is added so that the DMSO concentration is 1% (v/v). After mixing, the fluorescence of TNS in each well is measured (Ex/Em 331 nm/445 nm) and a sigmoidal best fit analysis is applied to the fluorescence data. The pKa is determined as the pH giving rise to half-maximal fluorescence intensity. The apparent pKa measured for compounds 1-36 is within the pH range 6.0-7.0.

Example 4. Measurement of Cell Uptake of LNPs

Measurement of LNP cellular uptake is achieved by fluorescent imaging and/or fluorescent quantification. There are many suitable fluorescent tracers available, such as 1,1′-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-Tetramethylindocarbocyanine Perchlorate (DiI), 3,3′-Dilinoleyloxacarbocyanine Perchlorate (DiO), 1,1′-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-Tetramethylindodicarbocyanine Perchlorate (DiD) and 1,1′-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-Tetramethylindotricarbocyanine Iodide (DiR) (Thermo). These lipids are weakly fluorescent in water but exhibit high fluorescence when incorporated into lipid membranes such as those present in LNPs. It is important that the lipids chosen are photostable and have high extinction coefficients.

LNPs containing these types of lipids are visualized under a fluorescent microscope. In one method, LNP lipid formulation contains a fluorescent lipid tracer such as 1,1′-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-Tetramethylindodicarbocyanine-5,5′-Disulfonic Acid (DiI5-DS) at 0.1-0.5 mol % total lipid. Cells of interest are grown in a suitable cell culture dish, such as a 24-well plate (Corning). The cells are seeded the day prior to the uptake study at 50% confluency and grown overnight under appropriate conditions, for example 37° C., 5% CO₂, 90-100% humidity. LNPs are added to cell culture medium at 0.1-100 ug/mL mRNA, allowed to interact with the cells for some time (4-24h), then the cells are washed with media three times to remove non-internalized LNPs before viewing. The cells are viewed with a microscope with fluorescent detection capabilities. The relative extent of LNP cellular uptake is determined from the fluorescent intensity signal from the cells, using non-treated cells as a background control. Alternatively, quantitative measurement of cellular fluorescent lipid may be achieved by pelleting cells, solubilizing them with a detergent such as Triton-X100, and quantifying fluorescence by a spectrofluorometer or quantifying fluorescent lipid tracer by HPLC.

In a similar manner, the quantitation of fluorescently labeled mRNA is achieved. For example, dye-labeled enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and Firefly luciferase (FLuc) mRNAs, both transcribed with Cyanine 5-UTP:5-Methoxy-UTP at a ratio of 1:3 is currently available from Trilink Biotechnologies. Cyanine 5 has an excitation maximum of 650 nm and an emission maximum of 670 nm. Substitution in this ratio results in mRNA that is easily visualized and that can still be translated in cell culture. By entrapping fluorescently labeled mRNA one can visualize the intracellular delivery of mRNA by methods described above.

LNP uptake in cells may be achieved by endogenous methods such as ApoE mediated, or through exogenous methods such as active targeting. It was found that the LNP systems containing ionizable cationic lipids take advantage of a “natural” targeting process where they adsorb apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in the blood (Cullis et al 2017) and are then actively taken up in hepatocytes by a number of receptors that contain ApoE binding ligands (Williams et al 2010). By using non-overlapping fluorophores it is possible to independently track mRNA and LNP intracellular distribution and organelle accumulation kinetics.

mRNA cellular expression levels may be quantified by using reporter systems such as EGFP, FLuc or mCherry, available from Trilink Biotechnologies. In one embodiment, EGFP mRNA is encapsulated in LNPs, and added to cells of interest at 0.1-100 ug/mL mRNA. The cells may be washed free of non-internalized LNP by replacing the media after 4-24h. At 24h, GFP signal is quantified by fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. In this way it is possible to differentiate between a panel of LNP formulations based upon reporter protein expression levels.

Example 5. Transfection Selectivity Index

A Transfection selectivity Index (TSI) is calculated to determine the relative transfection efficiency in mammalian cells, compared to the relative toxicity in those same cells. The selectivity index was calculated using the formula below:

TSI=EF_(mammalian)/IC_(50,mammalian)

where EF_(mammalian) is the transfection efficiency expressed in terms of ng protein/million cells and IC_(50,mammalian) relates to the cell viability of the same formulation in terms of half maximal inhibitory concentration.

The LNPs using compounds described here (1-36) have a 50% higher TSI than LNPs made using otherwise identical LNPs made with control molecule DLin-MC3-DMA as the ICL

Example 6. An Assay for Lipid Peroxidation

The extent of oxidation can be determined using a forced degradation assay where LNP samples are treated with 3% H₂O₂ at 25° C., and sampled on days 0, 1, 3, and 5 for lipid oxidation products (Blessy et al. (2014) Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 4, 159-165). The oxidation reaction can be quenched by addition of 0.1 M butylated hydroxytolulene (BHT) in ethanol and stored frozen at −80° C. until measurement. Lipid oxidation products can be measured using a 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reactivity assay (Gutteridge (1982) FEBS Letters 150, 454-458) to detect malondialdehyde (MDA), an end product of lipid peroxidation or by detection using an HPLC assay with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) or charged aerosol detection (CAD). Lipid oxidation and isomerization impurity structures can be assigned based on known literature precedent and are expected to be mixtures of isomers.

Generally, it is known in the art that lipids with multiple unsaturations in the acyl chain are more sensitive to oxidation (see Reis and Spickett (2012) Biochim Biophys Acta 1818, 2374-2387).

In some embodiments, the compounds provided herein have greater than 30%, greater 50%, greater 75%, greater 90%, and greater 95% reduction in oxidation byproducts when compared to the control LNP.

Example 7. Preparing Ligand-Targeted LNPs

Antibody ligands providing for specific uptake of LNPs into the cells of interest, such as, immune cells, in the form of antibody Fab′ fragments or single chain Fv fragments are prepared by any method known in the art (for example, as described in Drummond et al. U.S. Pat. Appl. 20180271998; Zhou et al. U.S. Pat. No. 10,406,225; Marks et al. U.S. Pat. No. 8,974,792, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties). To provide for conjugation of the ligands to LNPs, the ligands are constructed with a C-terminal sequence having a Cysteine residue, such as CAA, or GGSGGC. The ligands are expressed in bacterial or eukaryotic cells and isolated from the cellular mass or growth medium using standard methods such as protein affinity chromatography or metal chelation chromatography. To activate the thiol group of a terminal Cysteine residue, the ligands are incubated in the presence of 15 mM Cysteine in a 10 mM citrate buffer, pH 6.0-6.2, containing 140 mM NaCl, for 1 hour, and purified by gel-chromatography on a Sephadex G-25 or similar column, eluent 10 mM citrate buffer, pH 6.0-6.2, containing 140 mM NaCl. The protein concentration in the purified, cysteine-activated ligand solution is determined using UV spectrophotometry at 280 nm. The antibody ligand, at 1-10 mg/ml in the above named buffer, is mixed with the aqueous solution of a maleimide-terminated PEG-DSPE derivative (mal-PEG(2000)-DSPE, cat. No. 880126, Avanti Polar Lipids, AL, USA, or Sunbright® DSPE-020MA, NOF corporation, Japan) at the protein/lipid molar ratio of 4:1. Mal-PEG-lipids having PEG spacer with molecular weight or 3,400 (Sunbright® DSPE-034MA) or 5,000, available from NOF Corporation (Sunbright® DSPE-050MA), can be used where longer distance between the LNP surface and the ligand moiety is desirable. The solution is incubated at ambient temperature for 2 hours, adjusted to 0.5 mM Cysteine to block unreacted maleimide groups, and the micellar ligand-PEG-DSPE conjugate is purified by gel chromatography on Ultrogel AcA 34 (if the ligand is a Fab) or Ultrogel AcA 44 (if the ligand is a scFv), eluent—144 mM NaCl buffered with 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.0-7.4. The conjugated protein is quantified by UV spectrophotometry, and the purity is confirmed by SDS gel-electrophoresis.

Ligand is appended to the surface of LNPs by one of the following methods.

Method 1. Preformed LNPs (obtained as described in Hope et al. U.S. Pat. No. 10,653,780) are mixed with the micellar solution of the ligand-PEG-DSPE conjugate in a HEPES-buffered saline (10 mM HEPES, 140 mM NaCl, pH 7.0-7.2) to achieve the required ligand/lipid ratio in the range of 5-100 (typically 15-30) ligands per LNP particle. The mixture is incubated with slow agitation 2 hours at 37-40° C., or overnight at 2-8° C., during which time the conjugate is incorporated into the outer lipid layer of the LNPs. The ligand-conjugated LNPs are purified from unincorporated ligand-PEG-DSPE by gel chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B or CL-4B (hydrophilic size exclusion media with the same molecular weight cutoff can be also used); the LNP fraction appearing near the void volume is collected. The amount of ligand conjugated to the particles is determined by SDS gel-electrophoresis with Coomassie Blue or fluorescent staining and concurrently run ligand standards.

Method 2. A solution of the ligand-PEG-DSPE conjugate in 10 mM Na-citrate buffer pH 4.0 containing also the nucleic acid component of the LNP is mixed with the ethanolic solution of the LNP lipids to the final ethanol concentration of 40% by volume as described by Semple et al., U.S. Pat. No. 8,021,686, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, a LNP-preparation protocol of Hope et al. U.S. Pat. No. 10,653,780 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) is employed. The amount of ligand-PEG-DSPE is 0.1-1 mol % of the lipid. The mixture is dialyzed against HEPES-buffered saline (10 mM HEPES, 140 mM NaCl, pH 7.0) to remove ethanol. Ligand-PEG-DSPE is incorporated in the resulting LNPs. Any residual ligand-PEG-DSPE is removed by gel chromatography using Sepharose CL-4B or CL-2B, eluent HEPES-buffered saline, or by buffer exchange for HEPES-buffered saline by tangential flow filtration on a polysulfone membrane (flat or hollow fiber cartridge) having 500 KD molecular weight cutoff.

Method 3. Mal-PEG-DSPE is combined with preformed LNPs in a citrate-buffered saline (10 mM Na-citrate buffer pH 6.0-6.2, 140 mM NaCl) in the amount of 0.1-1 mol % relative to the LNP lipid in the same manner as ligand-PEG-DSPE of Method 1. LNPs with incorporated mal-PE-DSPE are purified from unincorporated mal-PEG-DSPE by gel chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B in the same buffer, and incubated with thiol-activated antibody ligand (5-100 ligands pre LNP particle) for 2-24 hours. Ligand-conjugated LNP so obtained are purified from unconjugated ligand by Sepharose CL-4B gel chromatography using HEPES-buffered saline pH 7.0 as eluent.

Method 4. Mal-PEG-DSPE is incorporated into the LNPs at 0.1-1 mol % of the LNP lipid in the same manner as ligand-PEG-DSPE according to Method 2. The resulting Mal-PEG-conjugated LNPs are incubated with the thiol-activated ligand and purified as described in Method 3.

Method 5. The protocol of Method 4 is performed with the difference that instead of mal-PEG-DSPE a maleimide-conjugated lipid without a PEG spacer (mal-DSPE, Coatsome® FE-808MA3, NOF corporation, Japan) is added to the lipid solution. The resulting maleimide-LNPs are conjugated to thiol-activated ligand as per Method 3.

Method 6. A low-molecular ligand (e.g., mannose) is conjugated to LNP by the Methods 1 or 2 wherein a mannose-PEG-DSPE (Biochempeg Scientific, MA, USA, cat. No. 12169) is substituted for an antibody ligand-PEG-DSPE.

Example 8. Determining Optimal Ligand Density of the Ligand-Targeted LNPs

A panel of LNPs are prepared with the increasing ligand density in a given range (2-200 ligands per LNP particle, or 5-100 ligands per LNP particle) using any of the methods of Example 7. The LNPs are fluorescently labeled by incorporation of a fluorescently labeled lipid or fluorescently labeled nucleic acid as described in Example 4. The labeled ligand-conjugated LNPs are tested for the cell uptake according to Example 4, and the ligand content corresponding to the maximum of the ligand-specific cell uptake of the LNPs is determined. The nucleic acid intracellular function (such as mRNA expression) can be used as an assay output (Example 4), in which case the presence of a lipid or nucleic acid detectable label is not necessary.

Example 9. Preparation of Lipidic Nanoparticles (LNPs)

mRNA modified with 5-methoxyuridine (5moU) and coding for mCherry (Cat #L-7203) was obtained from Trilink Biotechnologies (San Diego, Calif.). All uridine nucleosides were substituted with N1-methyl-pseudouridine. To produce the mRNA, a synthetic gene encoding the mRNA sequence was cloned into a DNA plasmid. The synthetic gene was comprised of an RNA promoter, a 5′ untranslated region, mCherry protein coding sequence, a 3′ untranslated region, and a poly(A) tail region of approximately 120 As. The open reading frame sequence for the mCherry mRNA from TriLink (Cat #L-7203) corresponds to SEQ ID NO: 1:

AUGGUGAGCAAGGGCGAGGAGGACAACAUGGCCAUCAUCAAGGAGUUCAU GCGGUUCAAGGUGCACAUGGAGGGCAGCGUGAACGGCCACGAGUUCGAGA UCGAGGGCGAGGGCGAGGGCCGGCCCUACGAGGGCACCCAGACCGCCAAG CUGAAGGUGACCAAGGGCGGCCCCCUGCCCUUCGCCUGGGACAUCCUGAG CCCCCAGUUCAUGUACGGCAGCAAGGCCUACGUGAAGCACCCCGCCGACA UCCCCGACUACCUGAAGCUGAGCUUCCCCGAGGGCUUCAAGUGGGAGCGG GUGAUGAACUUCGAGGACGGCGGCGUGGUGACCGUGACCCAGGACAGCAG CCUGCAGGACGGCGAGUUCAUCUACAAGGUGAAGCUGCGGGGCACCAACU UCCCCAGCGACGGCCCCGUGAUGCAGAAGAAGACCAUGGGCUGGGAGGCC AGCAGCGAGCGGAUGUACCCCGAGGACGGCGCCCUGAAGGGCGAGAUCAA GCAGCGGCUGAAGCUGAAGGACGGCGGCCACUACGACGCCGAGGUGAAGA  CCACCUACAAGGCCAAGAAGCCCGUGCAGCUGCCCGGCGCCUACAACGUG AACAUCAAGCUGGACAUCACCAGCCACAACGAGGACUACACCAUCGUGGA GCAGUACGAGCGGGCCGAGGGCCGGCACAGCACCGGCGGCAUGGACGAGC UGUACAAGAGCGGCAACUGA

Stock solutions of each lipid were prepared. Ionizable lipids were weighed out in 4 mL glass vials (Thermo B7999-2) and dissolved in ethanol (Sigma-Aldrich 200 proof, RNase free) to a final concentration of 10 mM. Other lipids such as DSPC, Cholesterol and PEG-DMG were weighed out and dissolved in ethanol to a concentration of 1 mM. DSPS was dissolved in methanol (Sulpelco, Omnisolve) at a concentration of 1 mM and briefly heated to 70° C. to complete its dissolution

Lipid mixtures for each individual LNP were prepared by adding the desired volume of each lipid stock solution to a new vial, adding ethanol if needed to achieve a final volume of 1.2 mL. For example, an LNP formulation of AKG-UO-1/DSPC/DSPS/Chol/PEG-DMG (50/2.5/7.5/38.5/1.5 mol %), with an N/P of 5 contained 1500 nmol AKG-UO-1, 75 nmol DSPC, 225 nmol DSPS, 1155 nmol Chol and 45 nmol PEG-DMG for every 100 μg of mRNA used.

mRNA solutions were prepared by thawing frozen mRNA (mCherry mRNA, Trilink) vials and diluting mRNA in 6.25 mM sodium acetate (pH 5.0) to a final concentration of 0.033 mg/mL. To prepare LNPs, a NanoAssemblr Benchtop microfluidic device (from Precision Nanosystems) was used. If LNPs contained DSPS, the heating block accessory set to 70° C. was used, otherwise LNPs were mixed at room temperature. 3 mL of mRNA solution was loaded into a 3 mL disposable syringe (BD 309656) and 1 ml of lipid mixture in a 1 ml syringe (BD309659) and placed in the NanoAssemblr heating block for 4 min prior to mixing. LNP formation was achieved by pumping the liquid streams through a disposable microfluidics cassette at 3:1 aqueous: alcohol volume ratio at 6 mL/min mixing speed. After mixing, 3.6 mL of LNP mixture was collected, while the initial mixed volume of 0.35 mL and last 0.05 mL of mix was discarded. Ethanol was removed by buffer exchange using SpectraPor dialysis tubing (12-14k MWCO) in PBS (Cytivia, SH30256.01) or by sequential concentration and dilution using Amicon Ultra-4 centrifugal concentrators (10k MWCO, at 500 g).

LNPs were typically exchanged into PBS, pH 7.4 and then 15 mM Tris, pH 7.4, 20% sucrose, concentrated to 20-50 ug/mL mRNA, sterile filtered (Thermo Nalgene 0.2 um #720-1320) prior to freezing by immersion in liquid nitrogen for 5 min and long-term storage at −20° C.

Example 10. LNP Characterization

A. mRNA Concentration and Relative Encapsulation Efficiency Determination by Fluorescent Binding Dye

-   -   Materials: Ribogreen reagent (Thermo #11491), 3×96-well plates         with lids, PBS, dissociation buffer (PBS with 10% DMSO and 1%         (wt/wt) Zwittergent 3-14 (Sigma-Aldrich #693017), mRNA, general         pipette tips & repeater pipette tips.     -   1. 5 mL of 2 μg/mL mRNA stock were prepared in DPBS or PBS     -   2. Diluted standards were prepared as follows in single wells in         a 96-well plate (Plate A);

Final [mRNA] ng/mL Vol. stock 2 μg/mL (μL) Vol. PBS (μL) 2000 400 0 1500 300 100 1000 200 200 500 100 300 0 0 400

-   -   3. Using different wells in Plate A, samples were diluted to be         within the standard curve, you'll need one well per sample. For         example, if the approximate mRNA concentration should be ˜30         ug/mL in the sample, a 20× dilution was performed (Dilution         Factor). (20 uL sample added to 380 μL PBS in a well). No lid         was used on plate A. Samples were mixed by gentle pipetting up &         down.

Example of Plate A

A 0 500 1000 1500 2000 B C S 1 S 2 S 3 S 4 S 5 S 6 S 7 S 8 Etc. D E F G H

-   -   4. Two more plates, plates B & C were used. Using a multichannel         pipettor, 60 μL of each standard 2 were pipetted into wells each         (duplicate), and sample into 3 wells each (triplicate)

Example of Plate B and C

A 0 500 1000 1500 2000 B 0 500 1000 1500 2000 C S 1 S 2 S 3 S 4 S 5 S 6 S 7 S 8 Etc. D S 1 S 2 S 3 S 4 S 5 S 6 S 7 S 8 Etc. E S 1 S 2 S 3 S 4 S 5 S 6 S 7 S 8 Etc. F G H

-   -   5. The number of wells used on each plate was counted and 4 was         added to this number. For plate B, PBS was prepared with         Ribogreen diluted 1:100. For example, for 40 wells, 44 was used         as the number. 44×60 μL=2.64 mL Ribogreen solution needed, so         that would be 2.61 mL PBS with 26.4 μL Ribogreen.     -   6. For plate C, 2.61 mL Dissociation buffer and 26.4 uL         Ribogreen was pipetted.     -   7. Using a repeater pipette set for 60 μL, PBS+RiboGreen was         added to each well on plate B and 60 μL Dissociation         Buffer+Ribogreen to plate C. Both plates B and C were mixed on         an orbital mixer (120 rpm) for 1 min. Plate B was placed in the         dark for 15 min. Plate C was incubated at 37° C. in the dark for         10 min, followed by 5 min at RT.     -   8. Both plates were read one after the other, using Ex. 465, Em.         530 nm     -   9. Using the standard curve, the slope and intercept were         calculated and by extrapolation the mRNA concentrations of the         samples on plate B & C were calculated (average and std.dev)     -   10. Percent encapsulation efficiency (% EE) by [mRNA] plate         B/[mRNA] plate C×100 was calculated     -   11. Total [mRNA] by taking [mRNA] plate C X dilution factor was         calculated.         B. LNP Particle size     -   1. 30 μL of LNP was mixed with 1.5 mL PBS in a polystyrene         cuvette (Sarstedt, #67.754) and analyzed for size using a         ZetaSizer Pro (Malvern) using ZS Xplorer software, version         number 1.4.0.105. The Z-average size and polydispersity index         value were recorded. Typically, size measurements of LNPs were         taken post LNP mixing, post buffer exchange and post sterile         filtering.

C. LNP Zeta Potential

-   -   1. 30 μL of LNP was mixed with 1.5 mL PBS and injected into a         disposable folded capillary cell (Malvern Nanoseries DTS1070)         and zeta potential measured on a ZetaSizer Pro at 25° C.

Example 11. Determination of Transfection Efficiency in Murine Dendritic Cells of LNPs Using mCherry mRNA

A. Cell Propagation, Transfection, Harvesting and Staining Protocol

-   -   1. MutuDC1940 cells (ABM) were grown according to supplier's         instructions in T75 flasks. When required, they were plated at         180,000 cells/well into 24-well plate one day prior to         transfection.     -   2. LNPs were added in triplicate to each well at 1 μg/mL in 1 mL         media and after 24h the cells were washed once with DPBS (VWR         02-0119-1000).     -   3. 0.2 mL of DPBS (plus 5 mM EDTA, pH 7.4) was then added to         facilitate detachment.     -   4. The cells were placed at 37° C. for 3 min, until detached.     -   5. 0.5 ml DPBS added to each well and the liquid transferred to         a flow cytometry tube (Falcon 5 mL #3 52054)     -   6. The tube was centrifuged at 1100 rpm for 3-5 min and the         liquid poured off     -   7. 100 μL of Zombie Violet (Biolegend) (diluted 1:500 in PBS)         was added to each tube     -   8. The tubes were gently tapped to resuspend cells and placed in         the dark for 15 min at RT     -   9. To the cells 0.5 mL of (paraformaldehyde 4% in PBS:DPBS 1:1)         was added and the cells flicked gently to resuspend and put on         ice for 30 min. Another 2 ml PBS was added.     -   10. The cells were pelleted as above and resuspended in 0.5 mL         DPBS with 5% BSA and placed in the fridge until needed.

B. Cell Analysis

-   -   1. Cells suspensions were analyzed by an Attune N×T flow         cytometer using the VL1 and YL2 for live/dead and mCherry         fluorescence signals respectively. Gating analysis was performed         on FloJo software.

Example 12. Impact of polyunsaturated acylchain composition on transfection activity of LNPs for KC2 and KC3 series lipids

The aim of this study was to directly compare KC2 and KC3 with ionizable cationic lipids of the same headgroups but varying in acyl chain composition. KC2 series lipids having a structure of dimethylaminoethyl headgroup structure were compared to the KC3 series containing a dimethylaminopropyl-derivatized head group. The LNPs contained various ICLs (KC2, KC2-01, KC3 and KC3-01) as the ICL at an N/P ratio of 5 and 50 mol % ICL, and a constant 1.5 mol % PEG-DMG. The cholesterol content was held constant at 38.5 mol % and the DSPC content was fixed at 10 mol %.

LNPs were analyzed and characterized as in Example 10. Transfection efficiency was evaluated in murine dendritic cells as described in Example 11.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a comparison of KC2 and KC3 polyunsaturated ICLs with a single methylene between the two olefins to KC2-01 and KC3-01 with four methylenes between the two olefins.

TABLE 3 Physicochemical properties of LNPs prepare with KC2 and KC3 series lipids Ionizable Cationic Particle Polydispersity % Lipid (ICL) Size (nm) Index PDI Encapsulation ± SD KC2 93.7 0.01 68.2 ± 3.7 KC2-01 70.7 0.06 88.9 ± 1.6 KC3 101.5 0.23 87.0 ± 2.3 KC3-01 91.6 0.03 88.9 ± 2.7

The data show that ICLs containing olefins in the lipid tails separated by at least two methylene groups have superior transfection efficiency compared to their linoleic acid parent compounds, as judged by the higher mCherry expression. KC2-01 was found to have 4.4-fold higher mCherry expression than KC2 and KC3-01 had 3.4-fold high expression than KC3.

Example 13. Impact of Ionizable Lipid Structure on Transfection Efficiency Containing LNPs

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of different ICLs on transfection efficiency in dendritic cells. LNPs were prepared as described in Example 9, characterized for particle size and zeta potential as described in Example 10, and evaluated for transfection efficiency in murine dendritic cells as described in Example 11. The LNPs used the ionizable lipids in Table 4 had 50 mol % ICL, the DSPC phospholipid composition was 10 mol %, the cholesterol constant was 38.5 mol % and PEG-DMG constant at 1.5 mol % with a constant N/P ratio of 5. UO-1 produced 4.2-fold higher mCherry expression than LNPs incorporating the O-11769 polyunsaturated lipid with a single methylene between it's two olefins.

TABLE 4 Physicochemical properties of diacyl ionizable cationic lipids with varying acyl chain compositions. Particle Encap- Particle Size (nm) sulation Zeta Zeta Size Post-Freeze/ Efficiency Potential Potential ICL (nm) Thaw (%) mV, pH 5 mV, pH 7 AKG-UO1 98.0 122.6 75.4 ± 2.2 21.9 2.3 AKG-UO1A 84.4 103.2 77.5 ± 0.9 28.0 −0.9 O-11769 83.0 89.6 87.5 ± 2.7 17.1 4.1 AKG-DM2-OA 77.6 111.5 64.9 ± 3.4 19.1 2.2 DODAP 69.8 68.2 83.4 ± 7.7 10.2 −0.7

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the impact of ionizable lipid acyl chain composition on transfection efficiency of mCherry mRNA LNPs in dendritic cells. “UT” corresponds to untreated sample (no LNP or sample was added to the well).

Example 14. Oxidative Stability of ICLs

The aim of this studies was to compare stability of ionizable cationic lipids with conjugated olefins (such as KC2, KC3 and O-11769) and those with conjugated olefins (such as KC2-01, KC3-01 and UO-1) under accelerated oxidation.

Individual lipid stocks (10 mM) were prepared in ethanol and stored at −20° C. Prior to the experiment, 5 mM suspensions (KC2, KC2-01, KC3, KC3-01, 0-11769 and UO-1) were prepared by mixing 45 μl of 10 mM lipid stock in ethanol (Sigma-Aldrich, cat #459836) with 45 μl of ultra-pure water (Rx Biosciences, cat #P01-UPW02-1000). Liposomal formulations based on AKG-UO-1 and 0-11769 ionizable cationic lipids (Table 5) were prepared by combining lipid mixtures of desired composition in 1 mL ethanol with 3 mL 6.25 mM sodium acetate, pH 5.0 at 6 mL/min on a NanoAssemblr (Precision Nanosystems). 3.6 mL of the mixture was retained, while the initial 0.35 mL of the mixture and final 0.05 mL were discarded. Ethanol was removed by buffer exchange into PBS, pH 7.4 by concentrating each liposome preparation using an Aminon-Ultra 4 centrifugal concentrator at 500 g for 10 min at 4° C. and diluting back to the original volume with PBS. This cycle was repeated multiple times until the ethanol concentration was <1%. Finally, liposomes were sterile filtered through 0.2 μm PES (Nalgene) syringe filters and size measured by a ZetaSizer (Malvern). The AKG-UO-1 containing formulation (Lot #102021-6) had an average size of 81.8 nm and a PDI of 0.09, whereas the O-11769 containing formulation had an average size of 86.6 nm and a PDI of 0.10.

TABLE 5 LNP formulations used in the accelerated oxidation study. Estimated Lot# Composition MW mol % total lipid [mM] 102021-6 AKG-UO-1 658.1 50 1.5 DSPC 790 10 Cholesterol 387 38.5 PEG₂₀₀₀-DMG 2500 1.5 102021-7 O-11769 658.1 50 1.5 DSPC 790 10 Cholesterol 387 38.5 PEG₂₀₀₀-DMG 2500 1.5

Aliquots of the liposomal formulations were stored at −80° C. and thawed before the experiment. A combined stock in water of 10% H₂O₂ (Sigma-Aldrich, cat #H1009) and 1 mM of Fe(III)Cl (Sigma-Aldrich, cat #372870) was freshly prepared prior to the treatment. To make 1% final concentration of H₂O₂ and 100 μM Fe(III)Cl, 10 μl of 10% H₂0₂/1 mM Fe(III)Cl stock was added to 90 μl of both liposomal formulations and individual lipids The liposomes and individual lipids were incubated with H₂0₂/Fe(III)Cl at 37° C. and then 5 μl from each sample was taken at different time points (0, 3, 24, 48 and 72 hours) and dissolved in 90 μl of MeOH for HPLC analysis. Degradation of the main lipid peak was analyzed using Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex UHPLC occupied with Charged Aerosol Detector (CAD) and Thermo Scientific Accucore™ C18+ UHPLC column (L=50 mm, D=2.1 mm, Particle Size=1.5 μm). The UHPLC operating conditions are listed in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Chromatographic Conditions HPLC Instrument Thermo Scientific Vanquish Flex UHPLC HPLC Column Accucore™ Vanquish™  C18 + UHPLC column Column Temperature 55° C. Flow Rate 0.5 mL/min Injection Volume 5 μL Absorbance detection 210 nm CAD 10 Hz Run Time 15 min Sample Temperature 21° C. Sample Solvent MeOH Mobile Phase Mobile Phase A: 5 mM ammonium acetate in water (pH 4) Mobile Phase B: Methanol Time, Mobile Mobile Mobile phase program: min Phase A, % Phase B, % −0.5 15 85 0 15 85 2 10 90 4 2 98 8 2 98 12 0 100 14 15 85 15 15 85

The data are presented as a percentage of the main lipid peak measured at different time points relative to the lipid peak measured at time zero.

TABLE 7 Degradation of ICLs with two olefins separated by one (KC2, KC3, or O-11769) or more (KC2-01, KC3-01, UO-1, UO-6, and UO-7) methylenes. % of parent lipid peak at time 0 Lipid/Formulation 24 h 48 h 72 h ICL Lipid Suspensions KC2 35 ± 0.7  6 ± 1.9  0 ± 0.0 KC2-01 91 ± 0.3 87 ± 0.9 83 ± 0.3 KC3 46 ± 1.8  1 ± 0.2  0 ± 0.0 KC3-01 83 ± 4.3 80 ± 0.4 74 ± 2.2 O-11769 31 ± 0.9  1 ± 0.2 0.3 ± 0.1 UO-1 78 ± 0.6 74 ± 0.1  65 ± 2.5 UO-6 58 ± 0.8 32 ± 1.3  22 ± 1.8 UO-7 80 ± 1.7 71 ± 0.8  62 ± 1.0 Liposome preparations UO-1 (102021-6) 86 ± 6.2 85 ± 4.2  73 ± 0.1 O-11769 (102021-7) 27 ± 2.2  8 ± 1.4   4 ± 0.1

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , all ICLs with olefins that had four methylenes between the two olefins (KC2-01, KC3-01 and UO-1) demonstrates dramatically superior stability under accelerated oxidation with hydrogen peroxide comparing to their counterparts with a single methylene separating the two olefins (KC2, KC3 and O-11769 respectively). Even after 72 h treatment with hydrogen peroxide, the main peaks of KC2-01, KC3-01 and UO-1 stay above 70% relative to the start of the treatment, while KC2, KC3 and O-11769 are fully degraded after 48 hours of incubation with hydrogen peroxide. Two other polyunsaturated ICLs (UO-6 and UO-7) similarly showed good stability to oxidation, although the UO-7 with a hydroxyethyl substituent in the head group degraded more rapidly than then dimethylamino ICLs.

The stability of ICLs with olefins separated by more than one methylene were studied as part of mRNA-free liposomal formulations using the structurally related UO-1 and 0-11769 ICLs. Other ionizable cationic lipids (KC2, KC2-01, KC3 and KC3-01) were excluded from this study since their chromatographic peaks overleap with the peak of DSPC which compromises the data interpretation. The stability data of UO-1 and 0-11769 based liposomal formulations are shown in FIG. 5 . UO-1 formulated in liposomes has 73±0.05% of main UO-1 peak after 72 hours of incubation in the presence of 1% hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, O-11769 based liposomes show only 3.9±0.06% of the 0-11769 peak after 72 hours of the treatment.

The totality of this data suggests that in addition to the improved transfection efficiency, the ICLs with more than one methylene between their olefins also display significantly improved stability to oxidative degradation.

Various aspects of the present disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments.

While specific embodiments of the subject disclosure have been discussed, the above specification is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification. The full scope of the disclosure should be determined by reference to the claims, along with their full scope of equivalents, and the specification, along with such variations.

All publications, patents and patent applications referenced in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application were specifically indicated to be so incorporated by reference. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound selected from the group consisting of AKG-UO-1, AKG-UO-1A, AKG-UO-1B, AKG-UO-2, AKG-UO-4, AKG-UO-4A, AKG-UO-5, AKG-UO-6, AKG-UO-7, AKG-UO-8, AKG-UO-9, AKG-UO-10, Compound 17, Compound 18, Compound 19, Compound 23, Compound 24, and Compound 25:


2. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of AKG-UO-1, AKG-UO-2, AKG-UO-4, AKG-UO-5, Compound 17, Compound 18, Compound 19, Compound 23, Compound 24, and Compound 25:


3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-1:


4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-2:


5. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-4:


6. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-5:


7. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is Compound 17:


8. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is Compound 18:


9. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is Compound 19:


10. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is Compound 23:


11. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is Compound 24:


12. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is Compound 25:


13. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-1A:


14. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-1B:


15. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-4A:


16. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-6:


17. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-7:


18. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-8:


19. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-9:


20. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is AKG-UO-10: 